Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary-28 Verse 22-28. See these verses explained at large on Matthew xi. 4-15.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 26. But what went ye out for to see ? etc.] What led your curiosity to go into the wilderness after him, since it could not be any of the above things? was it to see a prophet ? which was the case; for John was a prophet, and was known to be one; and the fame of him, as such, drew vast numbers to see and hear him, there not having been a prophet among the Jews, for some hundreds of years: yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet ; not that he was the prophet Moses did say should come; nor was he the priest that should arise with the Urim and Thummim, that the Tirshatha, Nehemiah spoke of; nor was he the king Messiah; but he was his forerunner, he saw him and baptized him, and so was greater than any of the prophets that went before him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-35 - To his miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds this in the kingdom of grace, To the poor the gospel is preached. It clearl pointed out the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, that the messenger he sent before him to prepare his way, did it by preachin repentance and reformation of heart and life. We have here the jus blame of those who were not wrought upon by the ministry of Joh Baptist or of Jesus Christ himself. They made a jest of the methods God took to do them good. This is the ruin of multitudes; they are no serious in the concerns of their souls. Let us study to prove ourselve children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God's word, an adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and Pharisee deride and blaspheme.
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλα 235 CONJ τι 5101 I-ASN εξεληλυθατε 1831 5758 V-RAI-2P ιδειν 1492 5629 V-2AAN προφητην 4396 N-ASM ναι 3483 PRT λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν 5213 P-2DP και 2532 CONJ περισσοτερον 4053 A-ASM-C προφητου 4396 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
26. A prophet (profhthn). The popular conception of a prophet is limited to his foretelling future events. This is indeed included in the term, but does not cover its meaning entirely. The word is from fhmi, to speak, and pro, before, in front of. This meaning of the preposition may have reference to time, viz., before, beforehand; or to place, viz., in front of, and so, publicly; and this latter meaning, in turn, easily runs into that of in behalf of; for. The prophet is, therefore, primarily, one who speaks standing before another, and thus forming a medium between him and the hearer. This sense runs naturally into that of instead of. Hence it is the technical term for the interpreter of a divine message. So Plato: "For this reason it is customary to appoint diviners or interpreters to be judges of the true inspiration. Some persons call them diviners, seers (manteiv); they do not know that they are only repeaters of dark sayings and visions, and are not to be called diviners at all, but interpreters, (profhtai) of things divine" ("Timaeus," 72). Similarly of an advocate to speak for, or instead of one. The central idea of the word is, one to whom God reveals himself and through whom he speaks. The revelation may or may not relate to the future. The prophet is a forth-teller, not necessarily a foreteller. The essence of the prophetic character is immediate intercourse with God. One of the Hebrew names for "prophet," and, as some maintain, the earlier name, signified a shewer or seer. See 1 Sam. ix. 10; and in 1 Cor. xiv. 26-30, Paul shows that revelation stands in necessary connection with prophesying.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:26 {A prophet?} (profeten;). A real prophet will always get a hearing if he has a message from God. He is a for-speaker, forth-teller (pro-fetes). He may or may not be a fore-teller. The main thing is for the prophet to have a message from God which he is willing to tell at whatever cost to himself. The word of God came to John in the wilderness of Judea (#Lu 3:2). That made him a prophet. There is a prophetic element in every real preacher of the Gospel. Real prophets become leaders and moulders of men.
