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Matthew 11 · a question people ask

"he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he" (11:11). How can that be, if no one born of women is greater than John?

In the text

Jesus says both in one verse: "Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he." (11:11). He has just said that John is "much more than a prophet" (11:9), the one "of whom it is written" (11:10). Luke gives the saying in his own words (Luke 7:28; see the go-deeper beside Luke). These notes set the words down as Jesus spoke them, and don't say how the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John beyond what the verse says.

The verses

“But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.”
Matthew 11:9-11 · World English Bible
““For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.””
Luke 7:28 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 11

Matthew 11: Come to me

When John sent from prison to ask, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?" (11:3), Jesus didn't answer yes or no: he sent back what they heard and saw (11:4-5). And before the chapter ends he says to all who labor and are heavily burdened, "Come to me" (11:28).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions