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11:11 But he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he - Which an ancient author explains thus: - "One perfect in the law, as John was, is inferior to one who is baptized into the death of Christ. For this is the kingdom of heaven, even to be buried with Christ, and to be raised up together with him.John was greater than all who had been then born of women, but he was cut off before the kingdom of heaven was given." [He seems to mean, that righteousness, peace, and joy, whichconstitute the present inward kingdom of heaven.] "He was blameless as to that righteousness which is by the law; but he fell short of those who are perfected by the spirit of life which is in Christ. Whosoever, therefore, is least in the kingdom of heaven, by Christian regeneration, is greater than any who has attained only the righteousness of the law, because the law maketh nothing perfect." It may farther mean, the least true Christian believer has a more perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ, of his redemption and kingdom, than John the Baptist had, who died before the full manifestation of the Gospel.
11:12 And from the days of John - That is, from the time that John had fulfilled his ministry, men rush into my kingdom with a violence like that of those who are taking a city by storm.
11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John - For all that is written in the law and the prophets only foretold as distant what is now fulfilled. In John the old dispensation expired, and the new began. Luk 16:16.
11:14 Mal 4:5.
11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear - A kind of proverbial expression; requiring the deepest attention to what is spoken.
41 God called Cyrus, and was with him, the nations idolatrous, Isa 41:1-8.
Israel encouraged by promises of safety and deliverance, Isa 41:9-20.
The vanity of idols, Isa 41:21-24.
Redemption by Christ, Isa 41:25-29.
41:13 Will hold - Will enable thee to vanquish all thine enemies.
41:14 Thou worm - Who art weak in thyself, and trodden under foot by thy proud enemies.
41:15 An instrument - Such as were usual in those times and places.The mountains - The great and lofty potentates of the world.
41:16 Fan - When thou hast beaten them as small as chaff.In the Holy One - For to him, thou shalt ascribe thy victory.
41:18 In high places - Upon the mountains where by the course of nature there are no rivers. The dry land - Their people who are like a dry and barren wilderness. I will abundantly water with my blessings.
41:19 The box tree - Trees which are both useful and pleasant to the eye, and giving a good shadow to the traveller. But what particular trees these Hebrew words signify, is not certainly known.