Matthew 11:3

Art thou he that should come?

Here is no doubt. reference to Malachi 3:1, where it is said: "Jehovah whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple." The slowness of our Lord to develop the glory of his kingdom seemed to John not to agree with the suddenness ascribed to the Messiah.-- Whedon. John had himself been inspired to proclaim the "One coming after him," and had heard the Father acknowledge the Son, seen the Holy Spirit descend, and had pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. But he, like the Jews, had expected. speedier and more striking manifestation of the kingdom. As Jesus did not unfurl his standard, proclaim his kingdom, overthrow Pilate and Herod, and break open his own prison, John, in the gloom of long confinement, began to ask himself whether. Jesus was really the long-expected Messiah, or only another but greater prophet than himself. It would appear probable, from this inquiry, that our Lord had hitherto abstained from making any distinct public assertion of his being the Son of God; though certainly he had preached the Gospel to the poor in. more general manner, he had not yet formally presented himself to the Jewish Church and people as their expected Messiah. See Mark 1:14.-- J. Ford.

Look we for another?

John here seems to be running in the same train of reasoning as that which induced the later Jews to adopt the theory of two Messiahs, one of whom (called by them the Son of Joseph) should fulfill the humiliations described by the prophets as belonging to the Messiah, and the other (whom they called the Son of David) should fulfill the glorious part of the prophecies.. do not mean that John adopted or was acquainted with this Jewish theory, but that the same idea (namely, the contrast lying between the humble, suffering Messiah and the glorious Messiah, prince of the kingdom of God) which prompted that theory prompted his question.-- Whedon. Not the Savior's person, but his mode of action, is to John. riddle. Matters move too slowly for him, especially as he himself is now condemned to involuntary inactivity. In vain does he wait for. speedy and public declaration of the Lord in respect to his Messianic dignity. It annoys him that the Savior speaks more by deeds than by words. Since these deeds are not miracles of punishment, like those of the old prophets, but benefits, which perhaps did not so well correspond with the expectation of the Lord of the threshing-floor with his fan in his hand. Matthew 3:11-12.-- Van Oosterzee.