Matthew 11:3

Verse 3. Art thou he that is to come? [1] (Greek, who cometh?) that is the Messias. John the Baptist had already, on several occasions, declared that Jesus was the Messias. John 1. He could not then doubt of it himself, but sent his disciples to take away their doubt. Witham.—Saint John the Baptist sent his disciples not to satisfy his own doubts, but for the sake of his disciples, who, blinded by the love they bore their Master, and by some emulation, would not acknowledge Christ to be the Messias. S. Chrysos. in Baradius.—This expression of Saint John is much taken notice of, as conveying with it a very particular question. “Tell me, says Saint John, now that I am departing out of this world, whether thou art coming to redeem the patriarchs and holy fathers; or wilt thou send another?” S. Thos. Aquin.—And S. Chrysostom also explains it thus, Art thou he that art to come to limbo? but the Baptist omitting this last word, sufficiently indicated to our Saviour what was the purport of this question. S. Jerom and Saint Gregory say, that by his death, he was going to preach to the holy fathers that Christ, the Messias, was come. John does not here propose this question as ignorant of the real case, but in the same manner as Christ asked where Lazarus was laid. So John sends his disciples to Jesus, that seeing the signs and miracles he performed, they might believe in him. As long, therefore, as John remained with his disciples, he constantly exhorted them to follow Jesus; but now that he is going to leave them, he is more earnest for their belief in him. S. Thos. Aquin.