Matthew 11
11
Jesus and John the Baptist
1After Jesus had finished teaching his 12 disciples, he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2John the Baptist was in prison, and when he heard about what the Messiah was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?”
4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see. 5Those who are blind are receiving their sight, those who are disabled are walking, those with skin diseases are being made clean, those who are deaf are hearing, and the dead are being raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor. 6Blessed is anyone who doesn’t give up their faith because of the way I do things.”
7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. “What did you go out into the desert to see?” he asked. “Tall grass waving in the wind? No? 8Then 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. 10John is the one written about in Scripture, where it says,
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way for you.’
11Truly I tell you, no one greater than John the Baptist has ever been born in this world. But the one who’s least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. 12From the time of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack, and violent people have been raiding it. 13All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came. 14If you’re willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come. 15Whoever is able to understand should pay attention.
16“What can I compare this generation to? They’re like children sitting in the markets and calling out to their friends,
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 the way most people do, so you said, ‘He has a demon.’ 19But when the Son of Man came, he did eat and drink the way most people do, and you said, ‘He’s always eating and drinking too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by its own actions.”
Towns That Do Not Turn Away From Sin
20Jesus then began to speak against the towns where he’d done most of his miracles, because the people there hadn’t turned away from their sins. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin!” he said. “Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that I did in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on mourning clothes and sat down in ashes. 22But I tell you this, on judgment day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to the heavens? No! You’ll go down to the place of the dead. If the miracles that I did in you had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today. 24I tell you, on judgment day it will be better for Sodom than for you.”
Rest for All Who Are Tired
25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from wise and educated people and shown them to little children. 26Yes, Father, you’ve done what you wanted to do.
27“My Father has given everything to me. No one knows the Son except the Father. No one knows the Father except the Son—and anyone the Son chooses to show the Father to.
28“Come to me, all you who are tired and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29Become my servants and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble, and you’ll find rest for your souls. 30My requirements are compassionate, and my load is light.”
Currently Selected:
Matthew 11: RAD
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Radiate™ New Testament
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014, 2020 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 11
11
John Sends Men to Ask Jesus a Question
(Lk. 7:18–35)
1When Jesus finished these instructions for his twelve followers, he left there. He went to the towns in Galilee to teach the people and tell them God’s message.
2When John was in prison, he heard about the things that were happening—things the Messiah would do. So he sent some of his followers to Jesus. 3They asked him, “Are you the one we have been expecting, or should we wait for someone else?”
4Jesus answered, “Go tell John what you have heard and seen: 5The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with leprosy are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are brought back to life. And the Good News is being told to the poor. 6Great blessings belong to those who don’t have a problem accepting me.”
7When John’s followers left, Jesus began talking to the people about John. He said, “What did you people go out to the desert to see? Someone who is weak, like a stem of grass#11:7 stem of grass Literally, “reed.” blowing in the wind? 8Really, what did you expect to see? Someone dressed in fine clothes? Of course not. People who wear fine clothes are all in kings’ palaces. 9So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, John is a prophet. But I tell you, he is more than that. 10This Scripture was written about him:
‘Listen! I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare the way for you.’ Malachi 3:1
11“The truth is that John the Baptizer is greater than anyone who has ever come into this world. But even the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John. 12Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, God’s kingdom has been going forward strongly.#11:12 has been … strongly Or “has suffered violence.” And people have been trying to take control of it by force. 13Before John came, the Law of Moses and all the prophets told about the things that would happen. 14And if you believe what they said, then John is Elijah.#11:14 Elijah See Mal. 4:5-6. He is the one they said would come. 15You people who hear me, listen!
16“What can I say about the people who live today? What are they like? The people today are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group of children calls to the other group,
17‘We played flute music for you,
but you did not dance;
we sang a funeral song,
but you were not sad.’
18Why do I say people are like that? Because John came, not eating like other people or drinking wine, and people say, ‘He has a demon inside him.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He’s a friend of tax collectors and other sinners.’ But wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.”
Jesus Warns People Who Refuse to Believe
(Lk. 10:13–15)
20Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles. He criticized these cities because the people there did not change their lives and stop sinning. 21Jesus said, “It will be bad for you Chorazin! It will be bad for you Bethsaida! I did many miracles in you. If these same miracles had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have changed their lives a long time ago. They would have worn sackcloth and put ashes on themselves to show that they were sorry for their sins. 22But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be worse for you than for Tyre and Sidon.
23“And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will be thrown down to the place of death. I did many miracles in you. If these same miracles had happened in Sodom, the people there would have stopped sinning, and it would still be a city today. 24But I tell you, it will be worse for you in the day of judgment than for Sodom.”
Jesus Offers Rest to His People
(Lk. 10:21–22)
25Then Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I am thankful that you have hidden these things from those who are so wise and so smart. But you have shown them to people who are like little children. 26Yes, Father, you did this because it’s what you really wanted to do.
27“My Father has given me everything. 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 the Son chooses to tell.
28“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29Accept my teaching.#11:29 Accept my teaching Literally, “Take my yoke upon you.” A yoke was put on the neck of a work animal for pulling a load. It was a Jewish symbol for the law. See Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. 30Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International