Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 11:7

"And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?" — Matthew 11:7 (ASV)

As they departed — There was an obvious risk that those who heard the Baptist's question and our Lord’s answer might be led to think with unfair harshness, perhaps even with contempt, of one who appeared to lack steadfastness. As if to address that risk, Jesus turned, before the messengers were out of hearing, to bear witness to the work and character of John. Only a short time before, in what was almost his last public statement, the forerunner had borne witness to the King (John 3:23–36), and now the King, in turn, fully recognized the greatness of the work that forerunner had accomplished.

What did you go out ...? — The verb tense points to the time when the Baptist's first proclamation, as the voice of one crying in the wilderness, drew crowds to listen to him. With His question, Jesus prompts them to recall the impression John had made on them at that time. Had you gone out to see a reed shaken by the wind? The imagery was, of course, drawn from the reeds that grew on the banks of the Jordan, but the use of the singular form shows it was meant to be understood symbolically. Had you gone out to see someone swayed back and forth by every wind of popular opinion? No, not that; what you witnessed then was something entirely different.