Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 11:2

"Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples" — Matthew 11:2 (ASV)

Apparently John had been held in prison by Herod during Jesus’ extensive Galilean ministry , perhaps as long as a year. The one to whom he had pointed, the one who would come in blessing and judgment (3:11– 12), had brought healing to many but, so it seemed, judgment to none—not even to those who had immorally and unlawfully confined the Baptist in a cruel prison.

John “heard... what Christ was doing” (v.2). Matthew normally avoids using the name “Christ” (lit. here, “the Christ” or “the Messiah”). Why does he use it here? The entire gospel is written from the perspective of faith. The very first verse affirms Jesus as the Messiah, and the prologue (chs. 1–2) seeks to prove it. So at this point Matthew somewhat unusually refers to Jesus as “the Christ” in order to remind his readers who it was that John the Baptist was doubting. Though John doubted, from Matthew’s perspective the time for doubt had passed. The phrase “what Christ was doing” (lit., “the works of Christ”) embraces a triple allusion, not only to Jesus’ miracles (chs. 8–9), but also to his teaching (chs. 5–7) and growing mission (ch. 10).

As a result of these reports, John sent a pointed question by some of his disciples. John’s question was whether Jesus was “the coming one” (v.3), exactly the same expression John himself used . John was asking Jesus whether he was the Messiah.

His question is understandable. Not only may he have become demoralized, like his namesake Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 19), but he had preached in terms of imminent blessing and judgment. By contrast Jesus was preaching in veiled fulfillment terms and bringing much blessing but no real judgment; as a result the Baptist was having second thoughts.