Matthew 11
11
Jesus and John the Baptist
1Jesus finished telling these things to his 12 followers. Then he left there and went to the towns in Galilee to teach and preach.
2John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about the things the Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus. 3They asked Jesus, “Are you the man who John said was coming, or should we wait for another one?”
4Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear and see: 5The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with harmful skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the Good News is told to the poor. 6The person who does not lose faith because of me is blessed.”
7As John’s followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed# It means that John was not weak like grass blown by the wind. blown by the wind? No. 8Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those people who wear fine clothes live in kings’ palaces. 9So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. 10This was written about John in the Scriptures:
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare the way for you.’ Malachi 3:1
11I tell you the truth: John the Baptist is greater than any other man who has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. 12Since the time John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward in strength. People using force have been trying to take the kingdom. 13All the prophets and the law of Moses spoke until the time John came. They told about the things that would happen. 14And if you will believe the things the law and the prophets said, then you will believe that John is Elijah. The law and the prophets said he would come. 15Let those with ears use them and listen!
16“What can I say about the people who live today? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group calls to the other,
17‘We played music for you, but you did not dance;
we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.’
18John came, and he did not eat like other people or drink wine. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came, eating and drinking wine, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much. He is a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved to be right by the things it does.”
Jesus Warns Unbelievers
20Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles. He criticized them because the people there did not change their lives and stop sinning. 21Jesus said, “How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! I did many miracles in you. If those same miracles had happened in Tyre and Sidon,# Towns where wicked people lived. then the people there would have changed their lives a long time ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show that they had changed. 22But I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be worse for you than for Tyre and Sidon. 23And you, Capernaum,# Towns by Lake Galilee where Jesus preached to the people. will you be lifted up to heaven? No. You will be thrown down to the depths. I did many miracles in you. If those same miracles had happened in Sodom,# City that God destroyed because the people were so evil. its people would have stopped sinning, and it would still be a city today. 24But I tell you it will be worse for you on the Judgment Day than for Sodom.”
Jesus Offers Rest to People
25Then Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I praise you because you have hidden these things from the people who are wise and smart. But you have shown them to those who are like little children. 26Yes, Father, this is what you really wanted.
27“My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son—only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father—only the Son knows the Father. And the only people who will know about the Father are those whom the Son chooses to tell.
28“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29Accept my work and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will find rest for your souls. 30The work that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is not heavy.”
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Matthew 11: ICB
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Matthew 11
11
John the Baptist
(Luke 7.18-35)
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns.#11.1 the towns: The Greek text has “their towns”, which may refer to the towns of Galilee or to the towns where Jesus' disciples had lived.
2John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers 3to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for someone else?”
4Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen. 5The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosy#11.5 leprosy: See the note at 8.2. are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news.#Is 35.5,6; Is 61.1. 6God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do.”
7As John's followers were going away, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John:
What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see? Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind? 8What kind of man did you go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who dress like that live in the king's palace. 9What did you really go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was. I tell you that he was more than a prophet. 10In the Scriptures God says about him, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you to get things ready for you.”#Ml 3.1. 11I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
12From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of heaven by force.#Lk 16.16. 13All the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Moses#11.13 the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Moses: The Jewish Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament. told what was going to happen up to the time of John. 14And if you believe them, John is Elijah, the prophet you are waiting for.#Ml 4.5; Mt 17.10-13; Mk 9.11-13. 15If you have ears, pay attention!
16You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other,
17“We played the flute,
but you would not dance!
We sang a funeral song,
but you would not mourn!”
18John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, “That man has a demon in him!” 19But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, “That man eats and drinks too much! He is even a friend of tax collectors#11.19 tax collectors: See the note at 5.46. and sinners.” Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.
The unbelieving towns
(Luke 10.13-15)
20In the towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God. So Jesus was upset with them and said:
21You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are in for trouble too! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads.#11.21 sackcloth…ashes on their heads: This was one-way that people showed how sorry they were for their sins.#Is 23.1-18; Ez 26.1—28.26; Jl 3.4-8; Am 1.9,10; Zec 9.2-4. 22I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will.
23People of Capernaum, do you think you will be honoured in heaven? You will go down to hell! If the miracles that took place in your town had happened in Sodom, that town would still be standing.#Is 14.13-15; Gn 19.24-28. 24So I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than you.#Mt 10.15; Lk 10.12.
Come to me and rest
(Luke 10.21,22)
25At that moment Jesus said:
My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. 26Yes, Father, that is what pleased you.
27My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.#Jn 3.35; Jn 1.18; 10.15.
28If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29Take the yoke#11.29 yoke: Yokes were put on the necks of animals, so that they could pull a plough or wagon. A yoke was a symbol of obedience and hard work. I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.#Jr 6.16. 30This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012