33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
Jesus reminds the Jewish leaders that they heard what John the Baptist had to say about Him, but He goes on to say that He doesn’t need the testimony of any man.
Jesus doesn’t need others to affirm Him, but He allows it so others can hear of Him and be saved. Jesus didn’t need John’s testimony, but the Jew’s did.
receive (v.34) = lay hold of, grasp
John was (v.34) — by this time, John had been killed by Herod.
burning and shining light (v.35) — John was not the light (John 1:20). He was just a carrier of the light in fulfillment of Psalm 132:17 — There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for Mine anointed.
The Jews got excited about John’s prophecy of the coming Messiah, but they didn’t understand it or respond to it. And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented (Matthew 11:17).
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