Matthew 11:10 Prepare the way

Jesus speaks of John the Baptist who (a few verses later) appears to represent Elijah.

Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. [kjv]

The word for "prepare", not the same as in Malachi, has in it the Greek word used for "goods" or "vessels" or "people" to be "raptured" (as in the parable of the strong man). The word for "take" is the Greek word for "plunder" or "snatch" or "extort" or "rapture" while the word for "force" is that of "compulsion". In context, these verses provide a possible meaning of "kingdom" of "heaven".

The context is a few verses after Jesus says that happy is the one who does not misinterpret His words.

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]

… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]

… happy … offended … [ty]

blind	look up
lame	walk
lepers	cleansed
deaf	hear
dead	woken up
poor	gospel preached

Having discovered a deeper meaning to Matthew 11:5, how might someone "misinterpret" what Jesus has said?

What should the church be doing?

What should believers be doing?

Discuss: Do churches or believers ever get "ensnared" or "misinterpret" in helping the poor, the blind, those without clothes, in prison, etc., and lose sight of the real purpose of Jesus? Many of those words used by Jesus have double meanings.

How many are like those picked by Gideon?

More: Matthew 11:1-6: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

Matthew 11:10

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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.

Greek: ουτος γαρ εστιν περι ου γεγραπται ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου

Malachi 3:1

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KJV: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Hebrew: הנני שלח מלאכי ופנה דרך לפני ופתאם יבוא אל היכלו האדון אשר אתם מבקשים ומלאך הברית אשר אתם חפצים הנה בא אמר יהוה צבאות׃

Greek: ιδου εγω εξαποστελλω τον αγγελον μου και επιβλεψεται οδον προ προσωπου μου και εξαιφνης ηξει εις τον ναον εαυτου κυριος ον υμεις ζητειτε και ο αγγελος της διαθηκης ον υμεις θελετε ιδου ερχεται λεγει κυριος παντοκρατωρ

Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [kjv]

ουτος γαρ εστιν ο ρηθεις δια ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου [gnt]

Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [kjv]

ως γεγραπται εν βιβλω λογων ησαιου του προφητου φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου [gnt]

John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. [kjv]

εφη εγω φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ευθυνατε την οδον κυριου καθως ειπεν ησαιας ο προφητης [gnt]

Matthew 3:3

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KJV: For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Greek: ουτος γαρ εστιν ο ρηθεις υπο δια ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου

Luke 3:4

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KJV: As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Greek: ως γεγραπται εν βιβλω λογων ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου

John 1:23

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KJV: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Greek: εφη εγω φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ευθυνατε την οδον κυριου καθως ειπεν ησαιας ο προφητης

John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [kjv]

1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [kjv]

1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. [kjv]

ουτος ηλθεν εις μαρτυριαν ινα μαρτυρηση περι του φωτος ινα παντες πιστευσωσιν δι αυτου [gnt]

In John 1, John talks of this "messenger".

1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [kjv]

και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας [gnt]

John 1:6

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KJV: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Greek: εγενετο ανθρωπος απεσταλμενος παρα θεου ονομα αυτω ιωαννης

John 1:7

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KJV: The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Greek: ουτος ηλθεν εις μαρτυριαν ινα μαρτυρηση περι του φωτος ινα παντες πιστευσωσιν δι αυτου

John 1:14

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KJV: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Greek: και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας

John 1:8

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KJV: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Greek: ουκ ην εκεινος το φως αλλ ινα μαρτυρηση περι του φωτος

Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. [kjv]

ουτος εστιν περι ου γεγραπται ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου [gnt]

This is "the way" (Greek) and not just a "way" (English). This is not a direct quote from Malachi in the LXX (Septuagint). Instead, part of the word for "prepare" has the word for "construction" as in "vessel" or "goods" but can also refer to people. Paul uses that word for "vessel" as having a "treasure".

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [kjv]

εχομεν δε τον θησαυρον τουτον εν οστρακινοις σκευεσιν ινα η υπερβολη της δυναμεως η του θεου και μη εξ ημων [gnt]

[prepare the way vs. birds make a nest in the law/tree]

More: Matthew 12:26-29 Snatching the raptured goods from the strong man

One often thinks of the "prepare" the "way" as being a "path" that needs "prepared". The early Christians were called (and called themselves) "the way" . In this sense, the "way" represents a group of believers and not a path. The word "Exodus" comes from the Greek words for "the way out".

Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: [kjv]

ομολογω δε τουτο σοι οτι κατα την οδον ην λεγουσιν αιρεσιν ουτως λατρευω τω πατρωω θεω πιστευων πασιν τοις κατα τον νομον και τοις εν τοις προφηταις γεγραμμενοις [gnt]

One can contrast the "way" with the "narrow gate" and the prevailing "Gates of Hell".

[Hell on earth, Sheridan and Texas]

More: Strait talk about narrow and wide gates

More: The key to the keys to an open and shut heavenly gate

More: Matthew 16: 13-19 Prevailing gates

2 Corinthians 4:7

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KJV: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Greek: εχομεν δε τον θησαυρον τουτον εν οστρακινοις σκευεσιν ινα η υπερβολη της δυναμεως η του θεου και μη εξ ημων

Acts 24:14

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KJV: But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Greek: ομολογω δε τουτο σοι οτι κατα την οδον ην λεγουσιν αιρεσιν ουτως λατρευω τω πατρωω θεω πιστευων πασιν τοις κατα τον νομον και τοις εν τοις προφηταις γεγραμμενοις