Matthew 11
11
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to #Matt. 9:35; Luke 23:5teach and to preach in their cities.
2#Luke 7:18–35And when John had heard #Matt. 4:12; 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 9:7in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3and said to Him, “Are You #Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17; Deut. 18:15, 18; Dan. 9:24; John 6:14the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5#Is. 29:18; 35:4–6; John 2:23The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and #Ps. 22:26; Is. 61:1; Luke 4:18; James 2:5the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he who is not #Is. 8:14, 15; (Rom. 9:32); 1 Pet. 2:8offended because of Me.”
7#Luke 7:24As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? #(Eph. 4:14)A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, #Matt. 14:5; 21:26; Luke 1:76; 20:6and more than a prophet. 10For this is he of whom it is written:
#Mal. 3:1; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:76‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12#Luke 16:16And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13#Mal. 4:4–6For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to receive it, he is #Mal. 4:5; Matt. 17:10–13; Mark 9:11–13; Luke 1:17; John 1:21Elijah who is to come. 15#Matt. 13:9; Luke 8:8; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
16#Luke 7:31“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, #Matt. 9:10a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ #Luke 7:35; John 2:1–11But wisdom is justified by her children.”
Woe to the Impenitent Cities
20#Luke 10:13–15, 18Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago #Jon. 3:6–8in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I say to you, #Matt. 10:15; 11:24it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, #Is. 14:13; Lam. 2:1; Ezek. 26:20; 31:14; 32:18, 24who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say to you #Matt. 10:15that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Jesus Gives True Rest
25#Luke 10:21, 22At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that #Ps. 8:2; 1 Cor. 1:19; (2 Cor. 3:14)You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent #Matt. 16:17and have revealed them to babes. 26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27#Matt. 28:18; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 13:3; 1 Cor. 15:27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. #John 1:18; 6:46; 10:15Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28Come to #(John 6:35–37)Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you #(John 13:15); Eph. 4:2; (Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 John 2:6)and learn from Me, for I am gentle and #Zech. 9:9; (Phil. 2:7, 8)lowly in heart, #Jer. 6:16and you will find rest for your souls. 30#(1 John 5:3)For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Matthew 11
11
Jesus and John the Baptist
1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.
2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,#11:3 Greek Are you the one who is coming? or should we keep looking for someone else?”
4Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.#11:6 Or who are not offended by me.”
7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.’ # 11:10 Mal 3:1.
11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,#11:12 Or the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered from violence. and violent people are attacking it. 13For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.#11:14 See Mal 4:5. 15Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
17 ‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t mourn.’
18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19The Son of Man,#11:19 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
Judgment for the Unbelievers
20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21“What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. # 11:23 Greek to Hades. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”
Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!
27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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