Blessings Supernal from His Precious Hand - Matthew 11:2-11 - 3rd Sunday of Advent

3rd Sunday of Advent
December 16, 2007

Shepherd's Candle for Joy
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 or Isaiah 35:10

Blessings Supernal from His Precious Hand

"Blessed is he who is not offended because of me." - Matthew 11:6

Reading

Common

Catholic

Episcopal

First
Isaiah 35:1-10 Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 Isaiah 35:1-10

Second
James 5:7-10 James 5:7-10 James 5:7-10

Psalm
Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:47-55 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 146 or 146:4-9

Gospel
Matthew 11:2-11 Matthew 11:2-11 Matthew 11:2-11

Quotes & Notes on: Matthew 11:6

John Wesley's Notes:
Happy is he who shall not be offended at me-Notwithstanding all these proofs that I am the Messiah.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* blessed. Mt 5:3-12; Ps 1:1; 32:1; 119:1; Lu 11:27,28
* whosoever. Mt 13:55-57; 15:12-14; 18:7; 24:10; 26:31; Isa 8:14,15; Lu 2:34 Lu 4:23-29; Joh 6:60,61; 7:41,42; Ro 9:32,33; 1Co 1:22; 2:14 Ga 5:11; 1Pe 2:8
Adam Clarke's Commentary:
Happy is he who will not be stumbled at me; for the word , in its root, signifies to hit against or stumble over a thing, which one may meet with in the way. The Jews, as was before remarked, expected a temporal deliverer. Many might he tempted to reject Christ, because of his mean appearance, &c., and so lose the benefit of salvation through him. To instruct and caution such, our blessed Lord spoke these words. By his poverty and meanness he condemns the pride and pomp of this world. He who will not humble himself, and become base, and poor, and vile in his own eyes, cannot enter into the kingdom of God. It is the poor, in general, who hear the Gospel; the rich and the great are either too busy, or too much gratified with temporal things, to pay any attention to the voice of God.
Family Bible Notes:
Not be offended in me; not dissatisfied with my character, conduct, and claims; but shall receive me as the Saviour, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Joh 1:29. Many were offended because Christ did not satisfy their carnal expectations concerning their long-promised Messiah. In these words the Saviour returned to John a virtual answer to his question, yet expressed in such a form that his enemies could take no advantage of it.
1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
(No comment on this verse)
People's New Testament Commentary:
This is suggested by John's seeming to have stumbled, not fallen, because Christ had not publicly declared his mission. The Lord does not upbraid, but gives in this way a tender rebuke, implying that he knew what to do with reference to his kingdom.
Robertson's Word Pictures:
Whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me (hos an mê skandalisthêi en emoi). Indefinite relative clause with first aorist passive subjunctive. This beatitude is a rebuke to John for his doubt even though in prison. Doubt is not a proof of superior intellect, scholarship, or piety. John was in the fog and that is the time not to make serious decisions. "In some way even the Baptist had found some occasion of stumbling in Jesus" (Plummer).
Albert Barnes' Commentary:
And blessed is he, etc. The word offence means a stumbling-block. See Barnes for Mt 5:29. This verse might be rendered, "Happy is he to whom I shall not prove a stumbling-block!" That is, happy is he who shall not take offence at my poverty and lowliness of life, so as to reject me and my doctrine. Happy is he who can, notwithstanding that poverty and obscurity, see the evidence that I am the Messiah, and follow me. It is not improbable that John wished Jesus publicly to proclaim himself as the Christ, instead of seeking retirement. Jesus replied that he gave sufficient evidence of that by his works; that a man might discover it if he chose; and that he was blessed who would seek that evidence, and embrace him as the Christ, in spite of his humble manner of life.

{e} "not be offended in me" Isa 8:14,15; 1Co 1:22,23; 1Pe 2:8
Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
(No comment on this verse)
Spurgeon Commentary:
That man is blessed who so believes, that his faith cannot be stumbled. A hint for John. John had not fallen, but very possibly he had stumbled. He had been a little put to it, through a sense of non-deliverance in time of need, and therefore he had asked the question. Blessed is he who can be left in prison, can be silenced in his testimony, can seem to be deserted of his Lord, and yet can shut out every doubt. John speedily regained this blessedness, and fully recovered his serenity. Lord, grant me to be firmly settled in my convictions, that I may enjoy the blessedness which flows from unstaggering faith. May nothing about thee
ever cause me to stumble at thee!
William Burkitt's Notes:
Our Saviour here, by pronouncing them blessed that are not offended in him, doth intimate the misery of those who stumble at him, and to whom he is the rock of offence. Some are offended at the poverty of his person, others at the sublimity and sanctity of his doctrine. Some are offended at his cross, others are offended at his free grace: but such as, instead of being offended at Christ, believe in him, and bottom their expectations of heaven and salvation upon him, are in a happy and blessed condition: Blessed is he that shall not be offended in me.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
(No comment on this verse)
The Fourfold Gospel:
And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me. The scribes had stumbled and failed to believe in Jesus because he did not fulfill their ideal, or come up to their expectations. Jesus seeks to woo John from a like fate by the sweet persuasion of a beatitude. John must realize that it is better for the subject to fall in with the plans of the all-wise King, as he fulfills the predictions of God the Father, than for the King to turn aside and frustrate the plan of the ages to humor the passing whim of a despondent and finite mind.

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Reading	Common	Catholic	Episcopal
First	Isaiah 35:1-10	Isaiah 35:1-6, 10	Isaiah 35:1-10
Second	James 5:7-10	James 5:7-10	James 5:7-10
Psalm	Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:47-55	146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10	146 or 146:4-9
Gospel	Matthew 11:2-11	Matthew 11:2-11	Matthew 11:2-11