Matthew 11
11
In Praise of John the Baptist
1When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. # Mt 7:28; 9:35; Lk 23:5 2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples # Lk 7:18-35 3and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else? ” # Ps 118:26; Jn 6:14; 11:27; Heb 10:37
4Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, # Lit cleansed the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. # Is 35:5; 61:1; Lk 4:18; Jms 2:5 6And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.” # Is 8:14-15; Mt 13:21; Jn 6:61; 16:1
7As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? # Mt 3:1; Eph 4:14 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. # Mt 14:5; 21:26; Lk 1:76 10This is the one it is written about:
Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; # Lit messenger before Your face
he will prepare Your way before You. # Mal 3:1; Mk 1:2 # Mal 3:1
11“I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, # Lit arisen but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, # Or has been forcefully advancing and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; 14if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. # Mal 4:5; Mt 17:10-13; Mk 9:11-13; Lk 1:17; Jn 1:21 15Anyone who has ears # Other mss add to hear should listen! # Mt 13:9; Mk 4:23; Lk 8:8; 14:35; Rv 2:7
An Unresponsive Generation
16“To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:
17We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t mourn! # Or beat your breasts
18For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon! ’ # Mt 3:4; Lk 1:15 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, # Mt 9:10; Lk 7:36; 14:1; Jn 2:1; 12:2 a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’ # Mt 9:11; 18:17; Lk 15:2; 19:7 Yet wisdom is vindicated # Or declared right by her deeds.” # Other mss read children
20Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent: 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! # Lk 10:12-15 Woe to you, Bethsaida! # Mk 6:45; Lk 9:10; Jn 12:21 For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, # Mt 15:21; Lk 6:17; Ac 12:20 they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago! 22But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment # Ezk 28:2-4; Am 1:9-10; Mt 10:15; 15:21; Mk 3:8 than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to Hades. # Is 14:13,15; Mt 4:13 For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest
25At that time Jesus said, # Lk 10:21-22 “I praise # Or thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants. # Ps 8:2; Lk 22:42; Jn 11:41; 1Co 1:26; 2Co 3:14 26Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. # Lit was well-pleasing in Your sight 27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows # Or knows exactly the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires # Or wills, or chooses to reveal Him. # Mt 28:18; Jn 1:18; 7:29; 8:19; 10:15; 17:25-26
28“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. # Jr 31:25; Jn 7:37 29All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, # Jn 13:15; Eph 4:20; Php 2:5; 1Pt 2:21; 1Jn 2:6 because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. # Jr 6:16; Zch 9:9; 2Co 10:1; Php 2:7-8 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
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Matthew 11
11
Jesus and John the Baptist
1Jesus finished teaching his 12 disciples. Then he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2John the Baptist was in prison. When he heard about the actions of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him. 3They asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?”
4Jesus replied, “Go back to John. Report to him what you hear and see. 5Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are made ‘clean.’ Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor. 6Blessed is anyone who does not give up their faith because of me.”
7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, “What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. People who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare your way for you.’ (Malachi 3:1)
11What I’m about to tell you is true. No one more important than John the Baptist has ever been born. But the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is more important than he is. 12Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack. And violent people are taking hold of it. 13All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came. 14If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come. 15Whoever has ears should listen.
16“What can I compare today’s people to? They are like children sitting in the markets and calling out to others. They say,
17“ ‘We played the flute for you.
But you didn’t dance.
We sang a funeral song.
But you didn’t become sad.’
18When John came, he didn’t eat or drink as you do. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And people say, ‘This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ By wise actions wisdom is shown to be right.”
Towns That Do Not Turn Away From Sin
20Jesus began to speak against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins. So he said, 21“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes. 22But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today. 24But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.”
Rest for All Who Are Tired
25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. 26Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.
27“My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.
28“Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 30Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”
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