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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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Matthew 11
11
A Question from John the Baptist
1 And it happened that when Jesus had finished giving orders to his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and to preach in their towns. 2Now when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal John#That is, John the Baptist heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent word#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation by his disciples 3and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent” in the previous verse) has been translated as a finite verb said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4And Jesus answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “Go and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 6And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”
7Now as#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were going away”) these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings. 9But why did you go out? To see a prophet?#Some manuscripts have “But what did you go out to see? A prophet?” Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 10It is this man about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’#A quotation from Mal 3:1; cf. Mark 1:2
11Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12But from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is treated violently, and the violent claim#Or “seize” it. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, 14and if you are willing to accept it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation he is Elijah, the one who is going to come. 15The one who has ears, let him hear!
16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, 17saying,
‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;
we sang a lament and you did not mourn.’
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, ‘Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”#Many Greek manuscripts, including most later ones, read “children”
Woes Pronounced on Unrepentant Towns
20Then he began to reproach the towns in which the majority of his miracles had been done, because they did not repent: 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”
A Yoke That Is Easy
25At that time Jesus answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.#Or perhaps “to the childlike,” or “to the innocent” 26Yes, Father, for to do so was your gracious will.#Literally “was pleasing before you” 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom#Literally “to whomever” the Son wants to reveal him.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 28Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”
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