Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 11:6
And blessed is [he,] whosoever shall not be offended in me.
6. And blessed is he ] Blessed are all who see that these works of mine are truly the works of the Messiah. Some had thought only of an avenging and triumphant Christ.
blessed ] A term that denotes spiritual insight and advance in the true life.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And blessed is he … – The word offence means a stumbling-block. See the notes at Mat 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 the one 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 or happy who should appreciate that evidence and embrace him as the Christ, in spite of his humble manner of life.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Mat 11:6
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.
The prejudices against Christianity considered
I. Those prejudices and objections which the world had against the saviour and his religion at their first appearance; also to inquire into those which men at this day insist upon; and to show the unreasonableness of them.
1. That Christianity was a great innovation, and contrary to the received institutions of the world.
2. They objected against the plainness and simplicity of the doctrine.
3. That it wanted demonstration.
4. That the low and suffering condition of our Saviour was unsuitable to one that pretended to be the Son of God.
II. To consider the prejudices and objections which men at this day insist upon against our saviour and his religion.
1. Some that relate to the incarnation of our Saviour.
2. To the time of His appearance. Why did He not come sooner?
3. That we have not now sufficient evidence of the truth of Christianity.
4. That the terms of it seem very hard, and to lay too great restraints upon human nature.
5. That it is apt to despoil men, and to break the vigour and courage of their minds.
6. The divisions and factions that are among Christians.
7. The wicked lives of the greatest part of the professors of Christianity.
III. How happy a thing it is to escape the common prejudices men are apt to entertain against religion-Blessed is he, etc. This will appear if we consider-
1. That prejudice does many times sway and bias men against the plainest truths.
2. Prejudice will bias men in matters of the greatest concernment, in things that concern the honour of God and the good of others and our own welfare.
3. The consequences of mens prejudices in these things prove many times fatal and destructive.
4. There are few in comparison who have the happiness to escape and overcome the common prejudices which men are apt to entertain against religion. (J. Tillotson, D. D.)
Taking offence at the gospel
I. what are the offences which are generally taken at the gospel of Christ?
1. The poverty and meanness in which our Saviour appeared was the earliest objection to the gospel. This prejudice arises from a false conception of the power and majesty of God, as if the success of His purposes depended upon the visible fitness of the instruments He made choice of; or as if the majesty of God wants the little supports of outward pomp as that of man does. But would the advantages with respect to men have been greater had Christ appeared in greater splendour? The majesty of God must be veiled to be seen by the human eye. But did not Christ give sight to the blind, and triumph over death? Do princes and greatest men perform such works? Do these not manifest Divine power?
2. The next offence is that men do not find the wisdom they seek after in the gospel.
(1) But this objection must rise to our creation, with God for not making us wiser than we are.
(2) This objection does not affect the practice of religion.
(3) That the gospel has given us the greatest evidence for the certainty of those things that can be desired.
3. The last offence is that the gospel contains mysterious truths.
(1) This objection does not reach the gospel use of the word, nor can affect the mysteries contained in the gospel.
(2) That the use of the word, which is liable to this objection, does not in any way belong to the gospel; nor are there any such mysteries in the gospel as may justify the complaint made against them. (T. Sherlock, D. D.)
Offended with Christ
I. There are some who are so offended in christ that they never, trust him at all or accept him as their Saviour.
1. Some in His own day were offended with Him because of the humbleness of His appearance. They said, He is the sun of a carpenter.
2. There are others who reject Him because of the fewness of His followers.
3. Some are offended with Christ because of the grandeur of His claims. He claims to be God.
4. Some are offended with our Lord because of His atonement.
5. Some are offended because of the graciousness of the gospel. They prefer works.
6. Some are offended because of the holiness of His precepts. They like liberty to sin.
II. There are some who join the church of Jesus Christ who after a time are offended.
1. Because the novelty wears off.
2. Because they thought that they were always going to be happy.
3. Because they have met an opposition they did not expect from their enemies.
4. Because they began to find that religion entailed more self-denial than they had reckoned upon.
5. Because of the hard speeches of those who ought to have encouraged them.
6. Because of the ill conduct of professors.
7. Through trials of providence.
III. There are some who are not offended in Christ, and they are declared to be blessed.
1. Apart from anything else it is a blessed thing to have grace enough given you to hold fast to Christ under all circumstances.
2. Then you shall find a blessedness growing out of your fidelity,
3. But what blessedness awaits you. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
I. Who are the persons that are offended at Christ?
1. Those who discredit the authenticity of His Word.
2. Who deny the Divinity of His Person.
3. Who reject the efficacy of His atonement.
4. Wide despise the influences of His Spirit.
5. Who backslide from the profession of His name.
II. The things at which they are offended.
1. The meanness of His birth.
2. The sufferings of His life.
3. The simplicity of His doctrines,
4. The poverty of His followers.
5. The ignominy of His death.
III. The blessedness of those who are not offended at Christ.
1. Divine peace (Psa 119:1-176.).
2. Divine comforts (Psa 89:16).
3. Divine care (1Pe 5:7).
4. Divine honours (1Sa 2:30).
5. Eternal reward,
6. To be offended at Christ displays the greatest ignorance. (The Pulpit.)
The offence of Christ
I. With regard to those things which render the redeemer an offence to the world.
1. The mysterious constitution of His nature.
2. The humbling tendency of the doctrines.
3. The exclusive character of His religion.
II. The blessedness of those who are not offended in the Saviour. How is it that some embrace the Saviour, and others are offended at Him? The reception of Him is the result of Divine illumination.
III. The best means of attaining this blessedness.
1. Earnest Prayer.
2. Seek God in His Word.
3. A holy life. (E. Thompson, M. A.)
Offences against Christianity no just grounds for infidelity
1. The objections grounded on the nature of the religion, and what it has effected.
2. On the controversies about it.
3. On the conduct of its professors. (S. Jenner, B. A.)
Offended in Christ
The fact that our Lord directed His reply to John himself, for his personal satisfaction. John knew that Jesus was Messiah, but he did not know that His kingdom was to be a spiritual, not a temporal one. Two objections were taken against Christ of old. Jews pretended that His condition of life was too low and mean for what their prophets had taught them to expect; and the Gentiles objected to His doctrine, as not displaying enough of what they called wisdom. He should have come as a philosopher, or as a temporal king. But He did come, unassisted by human power, or dignity, or wisdom, and thus He was-
I. Enabled to be the pattern of all virtue.
II. The spread of His kingdom in so short a time, the more fully displays the hand of God.
III. His miracles acquire a greater degree of evidence, and-
IV. What He taught is now not liable to be charged with those suspicions, which royalty and conquest would justly have raised. (Zachary Pearce.)
Offences taken at Christianity
I. It is not to be expected that a religion, though truly Divine, should be entirely exempt from everything of difficulty, or liable to no manner of objection.
II. Not a few of the offences taken at religion, at that of Jesus in particular, may, they do in fact, arise entirely from men themselves, rather than from any real occasion that religion gives for them.
III. Many of the particular occasions of offence taken at the Saviour had been themselves actually predicted.
IV. No objections brought against Christianity should be considered alone; they, and the evidence it produces in its favour, should be considered together. The chief objections are-
(1) The needlessness of any supernatural revelation;
(2) the want of universality in Christianity;
(3) the weakness of the evidence produced in its favour;
(4) the difficulties found in some of the peculiar and sublime doctrines of the gospel;
(5) the disagreements among those who profess the gospel;
(6) the stress which Christianity lays upon faith;
(7) the difficulties of its precepts;
(8) the inconsistencies of professors. (John Hodge.)
Message of Christ to one beginning to be offended
John, in prison, hears of the great progress of the kingdom he has heralded, and cannot understand why he is left unaided, seemingly unpitied, to perish. Not for want of power, surely; the hand that healed the sick could open the prison. If for want of will, can this be the real King? Why does the axe not smite the overshadowing tree of wickedness; why does the fan not winnow the evil from the good? So he sends his message of remonstrance and indignation. To this Christ gives a twofold answer. He bids Johns disciples tell their master of His works and of His word, of His miracles and of His teaching.
I. Miracles, i.e., not merely things to wonder at, but signs that the supernatural kingdom of righteousness wrought by a power, a will, a voice outside of and acting on nature; telling us that this order of nature may yet be completely changed for a higher and better, in which it shall be as unnatural for man to suffer, sorrow, and die, as it is now natural. But the exercise of this power was limited. Only some of the sick were healed and dead raised. To assure us that eventually all shall be, we need, besides the evidence of Christs works, the declaration of His-
II. Word-to the poor the gospel is preached. Why is this significant? Because poverty is only another word for human imperfection and weakness. The life of humanity on earth is a life of struggle with nature. In proportion as man subdues the earth, progress, civilization, and wealth increase. But all are not equally fitted for this struggle; hence, while the strong frame, keen intellect, resolute will, conquer circumstances, the weak suffer and hunger. But in the kingdom of heaven there is a gospel for the poor. God has another world, in which to redress the inequalities of this, where the poor shall hunger and thirst no more, and where God shall wipe away the tears from all eyes. This gospel for the poor is no myth or mirage begotten of the fevered thirst of mans soul. Deeprooted in historic fact lie the reasons of this promise. The city of God that is to come down from heaven has had its foundation-stone laid already upon earth. The gospel for the poor is the gospel of the resurrection. He who preaches it, stands beside an open grave. Moreover, the glory to come is linked with present suffering as its result and fruit. The law of the heavenly kingdom requires that the sin which hinders our happiness should be burnt out by sorrow, and that we should bear the chastening cross in this life. While the rich man is told that if he would walk heavenward he must be ready to part with riches and become poor at Christs bidding, the poor man is comforted with the knowledge that weariness, sorrow, toil, suffering, and disappointment, if taken up as a cross, if lifted as a burden the Saviour has appointed, will bear rich fruit in heaven. Thus, out of suffering comes joy; out of sorrow, eternal peace; and so the trials of the poor man in this world are made his spiritual wealth in the world to come. (Bishop W. C. Magee.)
Offended by faithful preaching
Mr. Dodd, having preached against the profanation of the Sabbath, which much prevailed in his parish, and especially among the more wealthy inhabitants, the servant of a nobleman, who was one of them, came to him and said, Sir, you have offended my lord to-day. Mr. Dodd replied, I should not have offended your lord, except he had been conscious to himself that he had first offended my Lord; and if your lord will offend my Lord, let him be offended.
The ready way to blessedness
I. What it is to be offended in Christ.
1. It supposes some offer and revelation made to us, that grace is brought home to us and salvation offered to us.
2. It implieth such an offence that either they are kept off from Christ, or else drawn away from Him.
II. Upon what occasions men were offended in Christ.
1. They were displeased with His Person.
2. They were offended at His doctrine.
3. The great stumbling-block of all was His sufferings.
III. Was it not proper to that age only? There is danger still:-
1. Because, though the name of Christ be had in honour, yet the stricter profession of godliness is under reproach.
2. It may happen that the stricter sort of Christians are the poorer, and so may be despised of men.
3. Though men be not distasted against Christianity as a whole, yet in part, at some of its ways.
4. There is no man but if he run up his refusal of Christ to its proper principle he will find it to be some dislike, either from the inward constitution of his own mind, or the external state of religion in the world.
What is likely to offend since Christs exaltation into heaven?
1. The many calamities which attend the profession of religion.
2. They may take offence at Christs doctrine, at the purity, self-denial, the simplicity, the mysteriousness of it.
IV. The kinds of this sin of being offended in Christ.
1. There is an offence with contempt, and an offence with discouragement.
2. There is an offence of ignorance, and an offence of malice and opposition.
3. There is a total, and there is a partial, offence.
V. How is it true that those that escape this sin are in the ready way to salvation?
1. He that is not offended but evangelized, hath the power and virtue of the gospel stamped upon his heart.
2. The esteem produceth uniform obedience.
3. We are better fortified against temptations to apostasy-errors, scandals, and persecutions.
VI. Make use of this caution. Take heed of being offended in Christ.
1. Who are in danger of it.
2. The heinousness of it.
(1) It is unreasonable.
(2) Natural.
(3) Dangerous.
3. What shall we do to avoid it?
(1) Get a clear understanding;
(2) a mortified heart;
(3) a fervent love. (T. Manton, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.] Or, 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. The Jews were offended at Christ’s parentage and birth, at the poverty of his parents, and at the manner of his birth, by a virgin; and at the place of his birth, which they thought to be Galilee; at his education, because he had not learnt letters, and was brought up to a mechanical employment; at his mean appearance in his public ministry, in his own person, and in his attendants: his company and audience being the poorer sort, the more ignorant, and who had been loose and scandalous persons, publicans and sinners; at the doctrines he preached, particularly, which respected his own deity and eternity, the distinguished grace of God, and living by faith upon his flesh and blood. The disciples of John also were offended in him, because he and his disciples did not fast, and lead such an austere life as they and their master did; because of the meanness and obscurity of Christ’s kingdom; the imprisonment of John, and the many reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which did, and were likely to attend a profession of Christ: this our Lord knew, and had a peculiar respect to them in these words; but happy are those persons, who, notwithstanding all these difficulties and discouragements, are so far from stumbling at Christ, and falling from him, that they heartily receive him and believe in him, make a profession of him, and hold it fast; greatly love, highly value, and esteem him, and are willing to part with all, and bear all for his sake: these are blessed, notwithstanding all their sufferings for him even now; they have spiritual peace, joy, and comfort in their souls, and shall be happy in the full enjoyment of him to all eternity.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me ( ). 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).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Be offended [] . See on ch. Mt 5:29. Rev., shall find none occasion of stumbling. Compare Wyc., shall not be slandered.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And blessed is he,” (kai makarios estin) “And blessed, happy, or spiritually prosperous is the one,” exists or abides the one, Joh 15:20.
2) “Whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (hos ean me skandalisthe en hermoi) “Whoever he be that is not offended in me,” or does not stumble because of identity with me, Mat 2:5. And few there were who did not stumble, or were not offended at times, a reproof of John himself, Mat 26:31-35.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. And blessed is he who shall not be offended in me. By this concluding statement Christ intended to remind them, that he who would adhere firmly and steadfastly to the faith of the Gospel must encounter offenses, which will tend to interrupt the progress of faith. This is said by way of anticipation, to fortify us against offenses; for we shall never want reasons for rejecting it, until our minds are raised above every offense. The first lesson, therefore, to be learned is, that we must contend with offenses, if we would continue in the faith of Christ; for Christ himself is justly denominated a
rock of offense and stone of stumbling, by which many fall, (1Pe 2:8.)
This happens, no doubt, through our own fault, but that very fault is remedied, when he pronounces those to be blessed who shall not be offended in him; from which too we infer, that unbelievers have no excuse, though they plead the existence of innumerable offenses. For what hinders them from coming to Christ? Or what drives them to revolt from Christ? It is because he appears with his cross, disfigured and despised, and exposed to the reproaches of the world; because he calls us to share in his afflictions; because his glory and majesty, being spiritual, are despised by the world; and in a word, because his doctrine is totally at variance with our senses. Again, it is because, through the stratagems of Satan, many disturbances arise, with the view of slandering and rendering hateful the name of Christ and the Gospel; and because every one, as if on purpose, rears up a mass of offenses, being instigated by not less malignity than zeal to withdraw from Christ. (7)
(7) “ Pource que tous non seulement sont bien aises de se retirer de Christ, mais aussi tachent malicieusement d’entrouver les moyens;” — “because not only are all strongly disposed to withdraw from Christ, but they even endeavor maliciously to discover the means of doing so.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) Blessed is he.The words at once confirm the view that the question which the messengers had brought came from the Baptist himself, and show how tenderly our Lord dealt with the impatience which it implied. A warning was needed, but it was given in the form of a beatitude which it was still open to him to claim and make his own. Not to find a stumbling-block in the manner in which the Christ had actually come, that was the condition of entering fully into the blessedness of His kingdom.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Offended in me The word offended, here as elsewhere means to be made to stumble; that is, to fall into sin by some misunderstanding. The Lord here utters a warning to John. To John, we say, for the singular pronoun, “ Blessed is HE,” is so pointed as to be very unaccountable if it be not intended. The Baptist is not in wickedness; but he is in danger of being offended in Jesus. This brief and somewhat stern procedure constitutes the whole of his reply to John; and the disciples of John departed with it to their master.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And blessed is he, whoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.”
And then He adds a rider to what He has said so as to remind John that although he may not understand, he must trust and believe. He must not stumble over the fact that Jesus is not exactly what he was expecting, for great prophet that he was, even his understanding was limited by his background and expectations. This reference to Jesus being a possible stumbling block links Him with Isaiah 8:24-25 where God Himself is the stumbling block.
Yet this is more than a rider, it is a reply to John’s question. By accepting Jesus for what He is and truly believing, he will prove that he has been greatly blessed by God, and will continue to be blessed (note the echo of the beatitudes in Mat 5:3-9). As in Mat 5:3-9 ‘blessed’ means ‘blessed by God’. That is why He knows that John will take His words to heart and be comforted, because it will result from God acting in blessing on him (as in Mat 11:25.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 11:6. Blessed is he whosoever, &c. See the note on chap. Mat 5:29. It was foretold of the Messiah, that the world should be offended at him, Isa 8:14; Isa 53:1-3. Thisisintimatedinthepresentwords;whereinourSaviourhints,thatnotwithstanding the great works which he did among them, which testified of him that he came from God; notwithstanding the predictions of the prophets concerning the Messiah were so clearly and punctually accomplished in him; notwithstanding all this, they would take offence at his doctrine: but even this,that they rejected him, and would not own him for the Messiah, was another sign and evidence that he was the true Messiah foretold by the prophets; for, among other things, this was expressly predicted concerning him, that he should be despised and rejected of men. See Archbishop Tillotson.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 And blessed is he , whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Ver. 6. And blessed is he, &c. ] This he adds, as correcting the preposterous emulation of John’s disciples, who stumbled also at his meanness. Howbeit our Saviour saith not, Cursed be ye for being offended in me; but, Blessed is he, &c. God’s tender lambs must be gently handled. Evangelizatum, non maledictum missus es, said Oecolampadius to Farellus, who was a most excellent preacher, but over carried perhaps sometimes by his zeal for God. Laudo zelum, mode non desideretur mansuetudo, &c. I commend thine earnestness (as he there goeth on), so thou mingle it with mildness. Wine and oil are in their several seasons to be poured into men’s wounds. Show thyself to be a gentle evangelist, and not a tyrannical law maker.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6. ] See note on Mat 11:2 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 11:6 . ( vide Mat 5:3 ), possessed of rare felicity. The word implies that those who, on some ground or other, did not stumble over Jesus were very few. Even John not among them! On vide ad. Mat 5:29 . , in anything relating to my public ministry, as appearing inconsistent with my Messianic vocation.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
blessed = happy. See note on Mat 5:3.
not be offended = find nothing to stumble at.
Me: i.e. in My Person, My teachings, My grace, &c.; as many did. Compare Luk 4:22 with Luk 4:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
6.] See note on Mat 11:2.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 11:6. , blessed) A rare felicity. That very circumstance, that many should be offended in Him, was foretold as a sign of the Messiah.[514] He loaded others with benefits; He Himself was weak, poor, despised.- , whosoever) especially of the disciples of John, who saw the difference between his mode of living and that of our Lord. See Mat 11:18-19.
[514] Isa 52:14. That very fact was an argument likely to be easily appreciated, especially by the disciples of John. See Mat 11:18, with which comp. Mat 11:19.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
blessed
In prison, the King rejected, John’s faith wavers; the Lord exhorts and encourages His servant. Cf. Joh 15:20; Isa 42:3.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
blessed: Mat 5:3-12, Psa 1:1, Psa 1:2, Psa 32:1, Psa 32:2, Psa 119:1, Luk 11:27, Luk 11:28
whosoever: Mat 13:55-57, Mat 15:12-14, Mat 18:7, Mat 24:10, Mat 26:31, Isa 8:14, Isa 8:15, Luk 2:34, Luk 4:23-29, Joh 6:60, Joh 6:61, Joh 6:66, Joh 7:41, Joh 7:42, Rom 9:32, Rom 9:33, 1Co 1:22, 1Co 1:23, 1Co 2:14, Gal 5:11, 1Pe 2:8
Reciprocal: Mat 5:30 – offend Mat 13:21 – is Mat 13:57 – they Mar 4:17 – when Mar 6:3 – offended Luk 7:23 – General Joh 16:1 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
MISTAKES ABOUT RELIGION
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.
Mat 11:6
By religion, I mean the religion which Jesus taught, which has been handed to us by the Bible, and by the Church.
I. Reasons for the mistakes.How is it that there have been, and are now, so many common mistakes about religion? There are two reasons:
(a) Religion is not a set of rules. It has to do with our actions, words, thoughts, motives, and the future, and these are matters which cannot be estimated by the same standards as your work.
(b) Most of us give so little attention to it. Can you say that you give as much thought in any one week to religion as you do to Saturday afternoon amusements; or that you have any such interest in it as you have in party politics? If your daily work received no more thought, it would go ill with you.
II. What are the mistakes?
(a) One mistake is that it is a system of spiritual fire insurance. The Bible says that Jesus came to save from our sins, not in our sins.
(b) Another error is that religion is a matter of mere forms and ceremonies. There are many so-called religious persons whose religion consists of mere forms and ceremonies. I do not believe that is true of the majority of Christian people. But forms and ceremonies have their place, not, indeed, as religion, yet to some extent its outward dress and expression. Religion is, at least in part, a clinging to, a love and devotion to God our Father.
(c) A third mistake about religion is that it is not sufficiently practical. We are charged with making it too much a matter of feeling, or at the best, mere domestic virtues; and that it has been trailed along the ground, like the proverbial red-herring, to draw men off the track of reform and freedom, which can be better achieved by politics than by religion.
III. The answer to these mistakes.What answer have I to these charges?
(a) You have forgotten the fountain of the Christian religionthe life, words, actions, sufferings, and death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(b) As to religion not being practical, read the Sermon on the Mount. Would not this world be a far happier place than it is now if men would but carry out Christs teaching?
(c) The teaching of Jesus Christ is not for this life only; but it is also for the life to come.
(d) The religion of Jesus does certainly inculcate the milder and more domestic virtues. We cannot do without them. Acts of Parliament will not fill your house with grace, peace, and love. No; politics can do a great deal, but religion can do more. Cultivate it thoroughly, and you and your homes will be the better for it.
Canon C. Ll. Ivens.
Illustration
All the good in the world comes from God, and is Gods doing. If we once let ourselves get into the habit of criticising and fault-finding, there is no saying where it may not lead us. Once fall into the habit of fault-finding, and you will never be able to do anything else than find fault, even though it be with what is good. And if you find fault with what is good, you find fault with the work of God; and are just in the temper of those who were offended, and found fault with the Lord Himself. Therefore it is that whenever a real Christian finds himself slipping into words of fault-finding about others, he stops short and finds fault with himself. All the good in the world is Gods doing, and of it all God says still.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
11:6
Not be offended is from SKANDALIZO and Thayer defines it at this place, “To be offended in one,” and he explains his definition to mean, “i. e., to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority.” Jesus was giving so many evidences of the authority in his possession that no doubt should be had as to whether he was the one “that should come,” and they need not “look for another.”
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 11:6. And blessed is he, etc. This recalls Isa 8:14.
Offended, i.e., made to stumble. This does not upbraid, but cautions, implying that Christ knew best what to do in His kingdom. Result of the message: we may well believe that John was not taken away as a martyr to righteousness without having his faith restored. His disciples, after his death and burial, came and told Jesus (Mat 14:12).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
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.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Verse 6
Be offended in me;–distrust or reject me,–intimating, apparently, that John was in danger of doing this. John had believed himself the forerunner of a mighty prince and Savior. But his career, which had commenced so auspiciously, had been suddenly brought to a close: his followers were scattered, he was suffering himself a wearisome and hopeless confinement, and the personage on whom his hopes had been resting, was apparently taking no steps tending to the open establishment of his reign. It was not surprising, therefore, that the faith of his disciples, and perhaps even his own, began to falter, and to gave place to feelings of despondency and mistrust.