马太福音 11:8

Chinese NCV (Simplified)

你們出去到底要看甚麼？身穿華麗衣裳的人嗎？那些穿著華麗衣裳的人，是在王宮裡的。

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
你 们 出 去 到 底 是 要 看 甚 麽 ？ 要 看 穿 细 软 衣 服 的 人 麽 ？ 那 穿 细 软 衣 服 的 人 是 在 王 宫 里 。

Contextual Overview

⁷ As John's followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed blown by the wind? ⁸ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes live in kings' palaces. ⁹ So why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This was written about him: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way for you.' Malachi 3:1 ¹¹ I tell you the truth, John the Baptist is greater than any other person ever born, but even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. ¹² Since the time John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward in strength, and people have been trying to take it by force. ¹³ All the prophets and the law of Moses told about what would happen until the time John came. ¹⁴ And if you will believe what they said, you will believe that John is Elijah, whom they said would come. ¹⁵ Let those with ears use them and listen!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

A man: Matthew 3:4, 2 Kings 1:8, Isaiah 20:2, Zechariah 13:4, 1 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 11:27, Revelation 11:3

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:7 - he knew 1 Kings 22:10 - having put 2 Chronicles 18:9 - clothed Esther 5:1 - royal Esther 8:15 - royal apparel Luke 7:24 - What John 4:38 - other 1 Timothy 2:9 - not James 2:2 - goodly

Cross-References

Genesis 10:25
Eber was the father of two sons—one named Peleg, because the earth was divided during his life, and the other was named Joktan.

Genesis 10:32
This is the list of the families from the sons of Noah, arranged according to their nations. From these families came all the nations who spread across the earth after the flood.

Genesis 11:4
Then they said to each other, "Let's build a city and a tower for ourselves, whose top will reach high into the sky. We will become famous. Then we will not be scattered over all the earth."

Genesis 11:9
The place is called Babel since that is where the Lord confused the language of the whole world. So the Lord caused them to spread out from there over the whole world.

Genesis 49:7
May their anger be cursed, because it is too violent. May their violence be cursed, because it is too cruel. I will divide them up among the tribes of Jacob and scatter them through all the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 32:8
God Most High gave the nations their lands, dividing up the human race. He set up borders for the people and even numbered the Israelites.

Luke 1:51
He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But what went ye out for to see?.... Since it cannot be thought it was to see the reeds in the wilderness blow to and fro by the wind, or a man like one of them, either in gesture or doctrine; was it to see

a man clothed in soft raiment? In raiment made of soft materials, as fine wool, cotton, silk, c. such as Mecaenos wore, and who was therefore called Malacinus y: one finely dressed, and richly apparelled, draws the eyes of persons to him but such an one is not to be expected in a wilderness: and if the Jews went to see such a person, they were greatly disappointed; for John's raiment was of camel's hair, undressed, and he had a leathern girdle about his loins; and as for his diet, it was locusts and wild honey: no,

behold they that wear soft clothing, or, as Luke says, are "gorgeously apparelled"; to which he adds,

and live delicately, are in kings' houses, or "courts"; not in a desert, where John came preaching, nor in a prison, where he now was: he was no light, inconstant, flattering person, as generally courtiers are; had he, he would not have been in a prison; it was for his uprightness and faithfulness, in reproving Herod the king, that he was in such a place and condition. Thus from his very garb and diet, his character is vindicated from the charge of levity and change.

y Alex. ab Alex. Genial Dier. 1. 5. c. 18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Clothed in soft raiment - The kind of raiment here denoted was the light, thin clothing worn by effeminate persons. It was made commonly of fine linen, and was worn chiefly for ornament. Christ asks them whether they were attracted by anything like that. He says that the desert was not the place to expect it. In the palaces of kings, in the court of Herod, it might be expected, but not in the place where John was. This kind of clothing was an emblem of riches, splendor, effeminacy, feebleness of character. He meant to say that John was a man of a different stamp - coarse in his exterior, hardy in his character, firm in his virtue, suited to endure trials and privations, and thus qualified to be the forerunner of the toiling and suffering Messiah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 11:8. A man clothed in soft raiment? — A second excellency in John was, his sober and mortified life. A preacher of the Gospel should have nothing about him which savours of effeminacy and worldly pomp: he is awfully mistaken who thinks to prevail on the world to hear him and receive the truth, by conforming himself to its fashions and manners. Excepting the mere colour of his clothes, we can scarcely now distinguish a preacher of the Gospel, whether in the establishment of the country, or out of it, from the merest worldly man. Ruffles, powder, and fribble seem universally to prevail. Thus the Church and the world begin to shake hands, the latter still retaining its enmity to God. How can those who profess to preach the doctrine of the cross act in this way? Is not a worldly-minded preacher, in the most peculiar sense, an abomination in the eyes of the Lord?

Are in kings' houses. — A third excellency in John was, he did not affect high things. He was contented to live in the desert, and to announce the solemn and severe truths of his doctrine to the simple inhabitants of the country. Let it be well observed, that the preacher who conforms to the world in his clothing, is never in his element but when he is frequenting the houses and tables of the rich and great.