Matthew 11
11
John the Baptizer
1When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in their villages.
2-3John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?”
4-6Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on:
The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.
“Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!”
7-10When John’s disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. “What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A prophet? That’s right, a prophet! Probably the best prophet you’ll ever hear. He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, ‘I’m sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.’
11-14“Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God’s kingdom. But if you read the books of the Prophets and God’s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the ‘Elijah’ you’ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.
15“Are you listening to me? Really listening?
16-19“How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, ‘We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.’ John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a boozer, a friend of the misfits. Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
The Unforced Rhythms of Grace
20Next Jesus unleashed on the cities where he had worked the hardest but whose people had responded the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way.
21-24“Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you.”
25-26Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”
27Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
28-30“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
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Matthew 11: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
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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