Matthew 11:10 kjv
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Matthew 11:10 nkjv
For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'
Matthew 11:10 niv
This is the one about whom it is written: "?'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
Matthew 11:10 esv
This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
Matthew 11:10 nlt
John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.'
Matthew 11 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me..." | Original prophecy source |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord..." | Foretelling Elijah's return |
| Isa 40:3 | "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord..." | Prophecy of the forerunner |
| Ex 23:20 | "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way..." | Divine messenger sent before |
| Matt 3:1-3 | "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness... For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias..." | John fulfilling Isaiah 40:3 |
| Matt 11:7-9 | "...What went ye out into the wilderness to see?...a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." | John's unique prophetic status |
| Matt 11:11 | "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..." | John's unparalleled greatness |
| Matt 17:10-13 | "...Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not..." | John as the prophesied Elijah |
| Mark 1:2-3 | "As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger... Prepare ye the way of the Lord..." | Parallel Gospel account |
| Luke 1:16-17 | "And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias..." | Angel Gabriel prophesying John's role |
| Luke 1:76 | "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways..." | Zacharias's prophecy of John's role |
| Luke 3:3-6 | "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance...As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias..." | John's ministry in preparation |
| Luke 7:27 | "This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face..." | Parallel Gospel account |
| John 1:19-23 | "...Who art thou? He confessed, I am not the Christ...I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord..." | John's own testimony of his role |
| Acts 3:20-21 | "And he shall send Jesus Christ... Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken..." | Divine sending of Christ |
| Acts 13:24 | "When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel." | John's preparatory work |
| Is 62:10 | "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway..." | Preparing for God's presence |
| Phil 4:5 | "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." | Personal preparation for the Lord's nearness |
| Rom 10:13-15 | "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" | Need for messengers/preachers |
| 1 Pet 1:10-11 | "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you..." | Prophetic fulfillment concept |
| Deut 18:15 | "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me..." | Foreshadowing a greater Prophet |
| Ps 24:7 | "Lift up your heads, O ye gates... and the King of glory shall come in." | Preparing for the King's entry |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 10 Meaning
Matthew 11:10 identifies John the Baptist as the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy, specifically from Malachi 3:1. Jesus declares that John is the divinely appointed "messenger" whose singular mission is to "prepare the way" for the Messiah's arrival. This verse underscores the foreordained nature of John's ministry and Jesus's understanding of His own Messianic identity, validated by ancient scripture. John's role was to prepare the hearts and minds of the people through repentance, making them receptive to the Kingdom of God and its King.
Matthew 11 10 Context
This verse is part of Jesus's discourse about John the Baptist, delivered after John, imprisoned, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if He is indeed the expected Messiah (Matt 11:2-6). Jesus responds by citing His works, and then, after John's disciples depart, He speaks to the crowds about John (Matt 11:7-19). Jesus reframes their perception of John, asserting his greatness and profound prophetic significance. Verse 10 directly quotes an ancient prophecy to define John's precise role: the divinely appointed forerunner preparing the path for the Messiah. Historically and culturally, the Jewish people eagerly anticipated the coming of the Messiah and often debated the identity of His precursor, whom some believed would be Elijah returning. This prophecy clarifies that John fulfills that exact role, thereby affirming Jesus's own Messianic identity to the listeners.
Matthew 11 10 Word analysis
- For this is he: A definite identification. Jesus explicitly points to John the Baptist as the fulfillment of prophecy, leaving no room for doubt about who the verse refers to.
- of whom it is written: This phrase highlights the authority and certainty derived from the Hebrew Scriptures. It grounds the identity of John in God's divine revelation, demonstrating that John's role was foreordained and not accidental.
- Behold: (Greek: Idou, ἰδού) An emphatic interjection meaning "Look!" or "See!" It draws immediate attention to the weighty statement that follows, underscoring its significance and importance to the listeners. It demands attention.
- I send: This signifies divine initiative and authority. The "I" refers to God the Father, who is dispatching His appointed messenger, not merely an action undertaken by humanity. It implies divine intention and commissioning.
- my messenger: (Greek: angelos, ἄγγελος) While angelos can mean "angel," in this context, and referring back to Malachi 3:1, it unequivocally means a human messenger or prophet. This prophet is unique, chosen directly by God.
- before thy face: This denotes a close preceding position and direct proximity. The messenger (John) goes immediately before the Messiah (Jesus), paving the way directly in His path.
- which shall prepare: (Greek: kataskeuazō, κατασκευάζω) This means "to make ready," "to prepare fully," "to establish," or "to construct." It signifies actively making suitable arrangements for what is to follow. John's active ministry aimed at making people ready.
- thy way: The "way" refers to the path or course of the one being prepared for. It's not John's way, but the way for the Messiah Himself. This "way" is primarily spiritual, representing the hearts and minds of people made receptive to the Messiah and His message.
Words-group analysis
- For this is he, of whom it is written: This opening declaration serves as Jesus's definitive statement that John the Baptist is the subject of Old Testament prophecy. It underscores Jesus's authority in interpreting scripture and validating John's unique status. It signals a precise fulfillment.
- Behold, I send my messenger: This segment emphasizes divine sovereignty and purpose. God Himself is sending this specific angelos (messenger/prophet), signifying that John's arrival and mission are part of a predetermined divine plan for the arrival of the Messiah. It highlights a divine intervention.
- before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee: This entire phrase describes the specific, intimate, and preparatory function of the messenger. John's role is not just to announce, but actively "to make ready" for the direct and eminent arrival of the Messiah, focusing on removing obstacles—spiritual ones—to facilitate His reception. The repetition of "before thee" or "thy" strongly links John's mission solely to the Messiah's coming.
Matthew 11 10 Bonus section
- The quotation in Matthew 11:10 combines aspects from Malachi 3:1, often understood alongside Malachi 4:5-6, and Isaiah 40:3. While not a direct verbatim quote of a single verse, it perfectly captures the prophetic essence regarding the forerunner.
- The concept of "preparing the way" historically involved both literal road building for visiting dignitaries and also the spiritual readiness for a king's advent, highlighting the need for repentance and changed hearts.
- Jesus's affirmation of John's role reinforces the trustworthiness of God's prophetic Word, showing His promises are always fulfilled in His appointed time and manner.
- This verse underpins John the Baptist's singular greatness, which Jesus Himself further emphasizes in the subsequent verse (Matt 11:11). John was more than just a prophet; he was the specific, pre-ordained forerunner to the Messiah.
Matthew 11 10 Commentary
Matthew 11:10 is a pivotal verse because it is Jesus Himself who definitively identifies John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1. This validates John's extraordinary status, not merely as a prophet but as the divinely appointed forerunner who prepares the way for the Lord. John’s mission was critical: he was to level the spiritual landscape, much like road-builders prepared a path for an approaching monarch in ancient times. His baptism of repentance aimed to create a spiritually ready people, a generation whose hearts were open and receptive to the Messiah. Jesus's quotation of this prophecy solidifies His own Messianic claim, as John's preparation directly serves His advent. John bridges the Old and New Testaments, representing the culmination of Old Testament prophecy and serving as the direct herald of the New Covenant's King. This declaration by Jesus confirms that God's plan, prophesied centuries prior, was meticulously unfolding in their very midst through John and Himself.