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.”
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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