Matthew 11:13

The prophets and the law. The usual order is, “the law and the prophets” (Matt. 5:17; 7:12; 22:40; Acts 24:14; etc.), a common Jewish term for the OT (see on Luke 24:44).

Prophesied until John. The meaning here is not readily apparent. Perhaps the context is the best guide to interpreting this verse. Christ has just acclaimed John as the greatest of all the prophets (see on v. 11). He was greatest in the sense that it was his privilege to announce the coming of Him to whom all the prophets had borne witness (see Luke 24:27; John 5:39, 46). In this sense the OT prophets all looked forward to the time of John and spoke of the Messiah who was then to appear (1 Peter 1:10, 11). Thus it could be said that the prophetic office of OT times reached a climax in John. Furthermore, the words of Matt. 11:14, that John was the one “which was for to come,” may well be considered explanatory of v. 13.