Greater than John the Baptist?

"Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:11







At first glance, this passage seems very difficult to understand. How can Jesus at the same time refer to John the Baptist as the greatest and then turn around and say that the least of those in heaven's kingdom are greater than he?

Many potential explanations have been given, but only one seems consistent with Scripture. Matthew 13:16-17 points to those believers who will see and hear all the miracles of Jesus, especially His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

This fits well, since John the Baptist was a mighty prophet who did no sign miracle but rather proclaimed God's Word with power and strength, a mighty Voice in the Wilderness! As the Elijah of the Old Testament learned, God is not necessarily in the mighty wind or tumbling earthquake, but in the still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11,12) Mighty men of God such as John the Baptist were such not due to their greatness, but the great things that God did through them. Here Jesus informs us of this greatness, the preparing the way for the Christ which God accomplished through John.

We in the New Testament church have heard all the mighty miracles and words of this Christ which announce the kingdom of God come to earth to save men from their sins. Those such as John the Baptist did not see nor hear all these marvelous things of Jesus Christ! Not that their faith in His coming is any less than ours, but only we have been blessed to see through spiritual eyes the consummation of Jesus' saving work.

The members of God's kingdom thus have high regard and honor for John the Baptist and understand what Jesus is offering to us in this text. The words of the hymn "When All the World Was Cursed" say it well (verse one); "When all the world was cursed, By Moses' condemnation, Saint John the Baptist came, With words of consolation. With true forerunner's zeal, The greater One he named, And Him as yet unknown, As Savior he proclaimed."