Matthew 11:13 (DBY)

Passage

For all the prophets and the law have prophesied unto John.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say to you, that there is not arisen among [the] born of women a greater than John the baptist. But he who is a little one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

Matthew 11:12 But from the days of John the baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence, and [the] violent seize on it.

Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law have prophesied unto John.

Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, who is to come.

Matthew 11:15 He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "prophets", "prophesied", and "john". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "prophets" and "prophesied", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "But from the days of John the..." into verse 14's "And if ye will receive it this...", so "prophets" and "prophesied" 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 "prophets" and "prophesied" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.