Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 7:27
This is [he,] of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
27. Behold, I send my messenger ] Compare Luk 1:76 ; Mar 1:2. In the parallel passage of St Matthew our Lord adds that the Baptist is the promised Elias, Mat 11:11; Mat 11:14; Mat 17:10-13; Luk 1:17 (Mal 4:5). The quotation is from Mal 3:1, “Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me.” The words are varied because, in the original, God is speaking in His own person, and here the words are applied to Christ.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Luk 7:27
Behold I send My messenger before My face
John first, then Jesus
I.
WHAT DID JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACH?
1. He delivered the whole law against sin, arousing the consciences of people.
2. He made a demand for immediate repentance (Mat 3:11).
3. He heralded Jesus as the Messiah predicted of old.
4. He announced the special office of Jesus as a Redeemer of men Joh 1:29-36).
II. Now WHAT DID JESUS TEACH WHEN IT CAME TO HIS TURN?
1. Christ testified to the entire accuracy of Johns doctrine (Mat 11:11).
2. He proclaimed the full necessity of an atonement.
3. He declared that the necessary sacrifice was now to be accomplished by Himself (Joh 3:16-17). It shocked and stumbled His disciples, but He persisted in declaring that He came into the world to die.
4. He thus raised no new issue between men and God, but the rather narrowed down all the old into one; He made it clear that faith was to be the instrument of salvation (Joh 6:28-29),
III. Thus, then, we reach the conclusion that, so far as Jesus teaching and Johns teaching had value in the New Testament, THE POINT OF GREATEST IMPORTANCE IS THE ORDER BETWEEN THEM. Johns came earliest in fact, and earliest in logical necessity.
1. The historic position of the two men is enough to show all that is here claimed. There is an order in doctrine under the gospel arrangement as strict as the order of demonstration in problems in Euclids geometry. Johns work was a necessity and a solemn pre-requisite to the work of Jesus.
2. The similar form of procedure which in all their teaching these two preachers preserved, adds confirmation to the proof. John presented the law first, then the gospel; but his office was plainly to press the law into prominence. Jesus presented the law first, then the gospel; but His office was to bring the gospel into prominence. In both eases the law came earliest.
3. Our conclusion, therefore, is inevitable and clear. There remains no reason now why a single proposition should not be framed for permanent recollection and use: law-work preceded gospel-work in all Gods dealings with souls.
Practical inferences in conclusion:
1. We see why religious instruction in our day sometimes appears so tame, and proves so inefficacious. It is because Christian people preach Jesus without John.
2. We see why inquirers are so slow in finding peace at the cross. Peace? Why, there has been no disturbance! (see Eze 33:32).
3. We see why there is so much of unrest and misgiving among Christian people. They have no intelligent sense of Christs legal work in bearing the curse of the law in their behalf. Hence they labour to keep up a mere fire of fervour in their souls. They have studied regeneration more than justification; and it is by justification that one finds peace. So, not united consciously to Christ as a Surety, they are not sure.
4. We see why backsliding is so frequent as the sin of converts. Some have never been taught what leaving first love implies.
5. Finally, we see how the new life begins and continues, according to the revealed plan (Rom 5:1-2). (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
This is he of whom it is written,…. In Mal 3:1.
[See comments on Mt 11:10].
[See comments on Mr 1:2].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Prepare [] . See on ch. Luk 1:17.
Least [] . Lit., less. Rev., but little; or, as we might say, “comparatively little.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “This is he of whom it is written,” (houtos estin per! hou gegraptai) “This is the one concerning whom it has been and is written,” foretold, Mat 11:10.
2) “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,” (idou apostello ton angelon mou pro prosopou sou) “Behold I send (commission) my messenger before your face-appearing,” Isa 40:3; Mat 11:10.
3) “Which shall prepare thy way before thee.” (hos kataskeuasei ten hodon sou emprosthen sou) “Who wilI prepare your way before you,” before you come, or arrive, Mal 3:1; Mat 11:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
“This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, Who will prepare your way before you.”
For he was the one of whom God had said that he was His messenger, sent before His very eyes, to prepare the way for God to act and to enable Israel to behold its God (Mal 3:1; compare Isa 40:3-5 as in Luk 3:4-6).
The actual quotation is a combination of the Hebrew text for Mal 3:1 slightly altered and with a slight addition from Exo 23:20. The messenger will come from God, and like God he will go forward to prepare their way. The same combination is found in Mar 1:2; Mat 11:10. Possibly it was as contained in a list of prophecies or proof texts compiled by the early church or produced by the Apostles.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
it is written = it standeth written. Quoted from Mal 3:1. See App-107.
before. Greek. pro. App-104.
prepare. See note on Luk 1:17.
before. Greek. emprosthen = in the presence of.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 7:27. , Behold) See Mat 11:10, notes.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Behold: Luk 1:15-17, Luk 1:76, Isa 40:3, Mal 3:1, Mal 4:5, Mal 4:6, Joh 1:23
Reciprocal: Mat 11:10 – General Mar 1:2 – Behold Luk 9:52 – sent
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
This prediction is recorded in Mal 3:1.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
These verses are almost identical to Mat 11:10-11. Jesus identified John as the forerunner of Messiah predicted in Mal 3:1. As Messiah’s forerunner, John enjoyed a role greater than any other prophet, even those who gave messianic prophecies. However even the most insignificant participant in the messianic kingdom is superior to John because John only anticipated it.
"Being least in the kingdom is better than being the best anywhere else." [Note: Bailey, p. 117.]