blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
The first verse of this chapter some join to the foregoing chapter, and make it (not unfitly) the close of that.
1. The ordination sermon which Christ preached to his disciples in the foregoing chapter, is here called his commanding them. Note, Christ's commissions imply commands. Their preaching of the gospel was not only permitted them, but it was enjoined them. It was not a thing respecting which they were left at their liberty, but necessity was laid upon them, 1 Cor. 9. 16. The promises he made them are included in these commands, for the covenant of grace is a word which he hath commanded, Ps. 105. 8. He made an end of commanding, ἐτέλεσεν διατάσσων. Note, The instructions Christ gives are full instructions. He goes through with his work.
2. When Christ had said what he had to say to his disciples, he departed thence. It should seem they were very loth to leave their master, till he departed and separated himself from them; as the nurse withdraws the hand, that the child may learn to go by itself. Christ would now teach them how to live, and how to work, without his bodily presence. It was expedient for them, that Christ should thus go away for a while, that they might be prepared for his long departure, and that by the help of the Spirit, their own hands might be sufficient for them, (Deut 33. 7.) and they might not be always children. We have little account of what they did now pursuant to their commission. They went abroad, no doubt; probably into Judea, (for in Galilee the gospel had been mostly preached hitherto,) publishing the doctrine of Christ, and working miracles in his name; but still in a more immediate dependence upon him, and not being long from him; and thus they were trained up, by degrees, for their great work.
3. Christ departed to teach and preach in the cities whither he sent his disciples before him to work miracles, (ch. 10. 1, 8. ) and so to raise people's expectations, and to make way for his entertainment. Thus was the way of the Lord prepared; John prepared it by bringing people to repentance, but he did no miracles. The disciples go further, they work miracles for the confirmation. Note, Repentance and faith prepare people for the blessings of the kingdom of heaven, which Christ gives. Observe, When Christ empowered them to work miracles, he employed himself in teaching and preaching, as if that were the more honourable of the two. That was but in order to do this. Healing the sick was the saving of bodies, but preaching the gospel was to the saving of souls. Christ had directed his disciples to preach, (ch. 10. 7.) yet he did not leave off preaching himself. He set them to work, not for his own ease, but for the ease of the country, and was not the less busy for employing them. How unlike are they to Christ, who yoke others only that they may themselves be idle. Note, The increase and multitude of labourers in the Lord's work should be made not an excuse for our negligence, but an encouragement to our diligence. The more busy others are, the more busy we should be, and all little enough, so much work is there to be done. Observe, He went to preach in their cities, which were populous places; he cast the net of the gospel where there were most fish to be inclosed. Wisdom cries in the cities, (Prov. 1. 21.) at the entry of the city, (Prov. 8. 3.) in the cities of the Jews, even of them who made light of him, who notwithstanding had the first offer.
What he preached we are not told, but it was probably to the same purpose with his sermon on the mount. But here is next recorded a message which John Baptist sent to Christ, and his return to it, v. 2—6. We heard before that Jesus heard of John's sufferings, ch. 4. 12. Now we are told that John, in prison, hears of Christ's doings. He heard in the prison the works of Christ; and no doubt he was glad to hear of them, for he was a true friend of the Bridegroom, John 3. 29. Note, When one useful instrument is laid aside, God knows how to raise up many others in the stead of it. The work went on, though John was in prison, and it added no affliction, but a great deal of consolation to his bonds. Nothing more comfortable to God's people in distress, than to hear of the works of Christ; especially to experience them in their own souls. This turns a prison into a palace. Some way or other Christ will convey the notices of his love to those that are in trouble for conscience sake. John could not see the works of Christ, but he heard of them with pleasure. And blessed are they who have not seen, but only heard, and yet have believed.
Now John Baptist, hearing of Christ's works, sent two of his disciples to him; and what passed between them and him we have here an account of, Here is,
I. The question they had to propose to him: Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? This was a serious and important question; Art thou the Messiah promised, or not? Art thou the Christ ? Tell us. 1. It is taken for granted that the Messiah should come. It was one of the names by which he was known to the Old-Testament saints, he that cometh or shall come, Ps. 118. 26. He is now come, but there is another coming of his which we still expect. 2. They intimate, that if this be not he, they would look for another. Note, We must not be weary of looking for him that is to come, nor ever say, we will no more expect him till we come to enjoy him. Though he tarry, wait for him, for he that shall come will come, though not in our time. 3. They intimate likewise, that if they be convinced that this is he, they will not be sceptics, they will be satisfied, and will look for no other. 4 They therefore ask, art thou he? John had said for his part, I am not the Christ, John 1. 20. Now, (1.) Some think that John sent this question for his own satisfaction. It is true he had borne a noble testimony to Christ; he had declared him to be the Son of God, (John 1. 34.) the Lamb of God, (v. 29.) and he that should baptize you with the Holy Ghost, (v. 33.) and sent of God, (John 3. 34.) which were great things. But he desired to be further and more fully assured, that he was the Messiah that had been so long promised and expected. Note, In matters relating to Christ and our salvation by him, it is good to be sure. Christ appeared not in that external pomp and power in which it was expected he should appear; his own disciples stumbled at this, and perhaps John did so; Christ saw something of this at the bottom of this inquiry, when he said, blessed is he, who shall not be offended in me. Note, It is hard, even for good men, to bear up against vulgar errors. (2.) John's doubt might arise from his own present circumstances. He was a prisoner, and might be tempted to think, if Jesus be indeed the Messiah, whence is it that I, his friend and forerunner, am brought into this trouble, and am left to be so long in it, and he never looks after me, never visits me, nor sends to me, inquires not after me, does nothing either to sweeten my imprisonment or hasten my enlargement? Doubtless there was a good reason why our Lord Jesus did not go to John in prison, lest there should seem to have been a compact between them: but John construed it into a neglect, and it was perhaps a shock to his faith in Christ. Note, [1.] Where there is true faith, yet there may be a mixture of unbelief. The best are not always alike strong. [2.] Troubles for Christ,
