Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 11:3

3 And said unto him, art thou he that should come? or do we look for another?

The instance of this Text alone, is enough to convince the observing Reader of holy Writ, that the Evangelists do not set down all things in that order, as they were done. We have heard nothing before of Iohn's being cast into Prison in this Gospel, nor do we hear any thing here of the Story of it, till Matth. 14.6. when our Evangelist occasionally relateth it something largely. He here tells us of something done during his Imprisonment, viz. his sending two of his Disciples to Christ, to be satisfyed, whether he was the promised Messias, or they must look for another. Luke reports the same thing, Ch. 7. v. 19. Could he that was sent before Christ to prepare his way, and that had Baptized him, and seen the Spirit descending on him, and heard the Voice from Heaven, saying. This is my [illegible: 1 letter]eloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, and who had shewed Christ to his Disciples, Iohn 1.29.30, 31, &c. doubt whether he was the Messiah? Undoubtedly no, but Iohn saw how some of his Disc[illegible: 1 letter]ples either envying for his sake, as Iohn 3.26. or else inclinable to the Common error of the Iews about the Messiah, were something shaken with the Clamours of the Scribes, and Pharisees (who were far more favourable to Iohn, then to Christ.) That they might be satisfyed from their own sight of the Works of Christ, he a little before his Death sendeth them to Christ on this Errand, Art thou he who should come (in the Greek, who is coming) which lets us know the full Expectation the Jews generally had at that time of a Messias coming. They desire only to be satisfyed whether Christ was he.