Matthew 11:9 (ASV)

Passage

But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:7 And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?

Matthew 11:8 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft [raiment]? Behold, they that wear soft [raiment] are in king`s houses.

Matthew 11:9 But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

Matthew 11:10 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wherefore", "went", "prophet", "much", and "than". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wherefore" and "went", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "But what went ye out to see..." into verse 10's "This is he of whom it is...", so "wherefore" and "went" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wherefore" and "went" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.