Matthew 11
11
Messengers from John the Baptist
1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 # For ver. 2-19, see Luke 7:18-35 Now when John heard #ch. 14:3; [ch. 4:12] in prison about the deeds of #See ch. 1:17 the Christ, he sent word by #See ch. 9:14his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you #John 4:25; 6:14; 11:27 the one who is to come, or shall we #[Luke 3:15]look for another?” 4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5#See Luke 7:22 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers#11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and #Luke 4:18; [ch. 5:3; James 2:5]the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who #Isa. 8:14, 15; John 6:61is not offended by me.”
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out #ch. 3:1; Luke 1:80 into the wilderness to see? #[Eph. 4:14; James 1:6]A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? A man#11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see a man . . . dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9What then did you go out to see? #ch. 14:5; 21:26; Luke 1:76A prophet?#11:9 Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is he of whom it is written,
#
Mark 1:2; Cited from Mal. 3:1 “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12#Luke 16:16From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,#11:12 Or has been coming violently and the violent take it by force. 13#[See ver. 12 above]For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is #ch. 17:10-13; Mal. 4:5; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17; [John 1:21]Elijah who is to come. 15#ch. 13:9, 43; Luke 8:8; 14:35He who has ears to hear,#11:15 Some manuscripts omit to hear let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came # ch. 3:4; Mark 1:6 neither eating #
Luke 1:15
nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came #ch. 9:10; Luke 7:36; 14:1; John 2:1; 12:2 eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, #ch. 9:11; Luke 15:2; 19:7 a friend of #ch. 18:17tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”#11:19 Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
20 # [Ps. 81:11-13; Isa. 1:2-5] Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21#For ver. 21-24, see Luke 10:12-15 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in #ch. 15:21; Mark 3:8; [Isa. 23; Ezek. 28:2-24; Amos 1:9, 10]Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22#[Luke 12:47, 48] But I tell you, it will be more bearable on #See Acts 17:31 the day of judgment for #[See ver. 21 above]Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And you, #Cited from Isa. 14:13-15 Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to #ch. 16:18 (Gk.); Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24#[See ver. 22 above] But I tell you that #ch. 10:15 it will be more tolerable on #[See ver. 22 above]the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
25 # For ver. 25-27, see Luke 10:21, 22 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, #See Acts 17:24 Lord of heaven and earth, that #Job 37:24; 1 Cor. 1:19-27; 2 Cor. 3:14 you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and #ch. 21:16; Ps. 8:2; [ch. 13:11; 16:17]revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your #Luke 12:32; Gal. 1:15gracious will.#11:26 Or for so it pleased you well 27#See ch. 28:18 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son #[John 1:18; 6:46; 7:29; 8:19; 10:15; 17:25] except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone #[John 17:26]to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28#John 7:37; [John 6:37] Come to #[ver. 3] me, all who labor and are #[ch. 23:4; Luke 11:46]heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and #John 13:15; Eph. 4:20; Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 John 2:6 learn from me, for I am #Zech. 9:9; 2 Cor. 10:1; Phil. 2:7, 8; [ch. 5:5] gentle and lowly in heart, and #Jer. 6:16you will find rest for your souls. 30For #1 John 5:3my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Matthew 11
11
1 WHEN JESUS had finished His charge to His twelve disciples, He left there to teach and to preach in their [Galilean] cities.
2 Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples
3 And asked Him, Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one? [Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17.]
4 And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them. [Isa. 35:5, 6; 61:1.]
6 And blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth.
7 Then as these men went their way, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out in the wilderness (desert) to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
8 What did you go out to see then? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings.
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one [out of the common, more eminent, more remarkable, and] superior to a prophet.
10 This is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who shall make ready Your way before You. [Mal. 3:1.]
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize–a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.
14 And if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come [before the kingdom]. [Mal. 4:5.]
15 He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.
16 But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the marketplaces who call to their playmates,
17 We piped to you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and beat your breasts and weep aloud.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking [with others], and they say, He has a demon!
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners! Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does (her deeds) and by her children.
20 Then He began to censure and reproach the cities in which most of His mighty works had been performed, because they did not repent [and their hearts were not changed].
21 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes [and their hearts would have been changed].
22 I tell you [further], it shall be more endurable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, are you to be lifted up to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades [the region of the dead]! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued until today.
24 But I tell you, it shall be more endurable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.
25 At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled].
26 Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and good pleasure.
27 All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]
30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
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