willemina said: This verse in the Bible I cannot understand and all the commentaries we have cannot help me either. Can somebody help me? It is especialy the second half of that verse.
Lk 7:28 "For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (KJV)
May I add to what brother Edwards so graciously provided a tidbit from Bishop JC Ryle?
After discussing for several paragraphs what different commentators had written regarding the latter portion of this verse, Bishop Ryle wrote,
I believe the "least in the kingdom of God," to mean the least believer who lived after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. I believe the weakest member of the Churches planted by St. Paul had a clearer knowledge of the exact manner in which God would justify the ungodly than John the Baptist, or any one who lived before the crucifixion ever could have. The contrast our Lord is drawing is between the privileges of those who lived to see the great fountain of sin opened by His blood-shedding and those who died before that blood was shed. We do not realize the enormous difference in the position of these two classes of persons. We do not sufficiently remember how very dimly and indistinctly many great saving truths must have been apprehended before Christ died and the veil was rent in twain. The "way into the holiest was not made manifest" while John the Baptist lived, and for that reason Jesus says that the least member of the Gospel Church was "greater than he." His grace and gifts were not greater, but His knowledge and privileges cedidedly were.Expository Thoughts on Luke, Volume 1 by JC Ryle
