Saying 78

English

Jesus said, ‘Why did you come out into the countryside? To see a reed shaken by the wind? And to see a man dressed in soft clothes like your kings and your nobles? They are dressed in soft clothes, but are unable to know the truth.’

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Interpretation

Matthew embeds this saying in a larger discussion concerning the importance of John the Baptizer. (Compare Saying 46.) Mark 1.2–3 merges Exo 23.20 and Mal 3.1, and prefixes them to Isa 40.3. The combined result, inaccurately attributed to solely ‘the prophet Isaiah’, is presented as fulfilled in John the Baptizer. Matthew cuts out the Exodus/Malachi portion when copying from Mark’s introduction (Matt 3.3), instead moving it to the end of the present saying to provide an answer to the questions which Jesus asks (Matt 11.10). Luke later copied this change from Matthew. When the saying is isolated from a context in which Jesus discusses the role of John the Baptizer, it reads more as if he is referring to himself. Following the preceding series of sayings in the earlier versions of the book, Jesus contrasts those who choose to follow ‘kings’ or ‘prominent men’ against those who choose to follow him for the ‘truth’, the ‘worthy’ to whom he reveals ‘mysteries’.

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Parallels

Matthew

11.7–9 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.’

Luke

7.24–26 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.’