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Matthew 11

World English Bible

WEB

1When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” 7As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes 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 in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 10For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions 17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’ 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 gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” 20Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.” 25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. 26Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. 27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him. 28“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon 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, and my burden is light.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Matthew Chapter 11 presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus Christ, where he addresses the doubts of John the Baptist while also revealing the nature of his mission. John, who is imprisoned, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is indeed the Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to the miracles he performs—healing the sick, raising the dead, and preaching the good news to the poor—as evidence of his messianic identity. This response not only reassures John but also emphasizes that the fulfillment of #prophecy is evident in Jesus' works, aligning with the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1). Jesus then pronounces a blessing on those who do not stumble because of him, highlighting the importance of faith amidst uncertainty.

The chapter continues with Jesus’ strong words of judgment against the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, where he performed many miracles yet faced unbelief. He declares that it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for these cities, emphasizing the seriousness of rejecting the message of the Kingdom. Jesus then invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him for rest, offering a profound promise of peace and comfort. He describes his yoke as easy and his burden light, inviting believers into a relationship of discipleship that is characterized by grace and support. This chapter beautifully encapsulates the heart of Jesus’ ministry, calling for faith, repentance, and a personal connection with him as the source of true rest and salvation.

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Referenced by

  1. Exodus 33:14v28In Exodus 33:14, God promises His presence will go with Moses and give him rest. This promise of rest is echoed in Matthew 11:28-29, where Jesus invites those who are weary to come to Him for rest, highlighting the continuity of God's promise of rest through His presence.
  2. Numbers 12:3v29Numbers 12:3 describes Moses as very humble, more than any man on the face of the earth. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus describes Himself as gentle and humble in heart, drawing a parallel between the humility of Moses and the humility of Christ.
  3. 1 Samuel 22:2v28David gathers those who are in distress, debt, and discontented, similar to how Jesus calls those who are weary and burdened in Matthew 11:28, offering them rest.
  4. Psalms 9:9v28Psalm 9:9 describes the Lord as a refuge for the oppressed, which parallels Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28 for the weary to find rest in Him.
  5. Psalms 55:6v28Psalm 55:6 expresses a desire for escape and rest from troubles, which is echoed in Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to find rest in Him.
  6. Psalms 68:19v28Psalm 68:19 praises God for daily bearing our burdens, which resonates with Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to come to Him for rest and relief from burdens.
  7. Isaiah 10:27v28Isaiah 10:27 speaks of the breaking of the yoke of oppression. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus offers rest and an easy yoke, symbolizing liberation from spiritual oppression.
  8. Isaiah 28:12v28Isaiah 28:12 offers rest to the weary, which Jesus echoes in Matthew 11:28-29, inviting those who are weary to find rest in Him.
  9. Isaiah 29:18v5Isaiah 29:18 prophesies a time when the deaf will hear and the blind will see. Jesus refers to this prophecy in Matthew 11:5 as evidence of His messianic mission, highlighting the fulfillment of Isaiah's words through His miracles.
  10. Isaiah 30:15v28Isaiah 30:15 emphasizes returning and rest for salvation, paralleling Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to find rest in Him.
  11. Isaiah 35:5-6v5Isaiah 35:5-6 describes the healing of the blind, deaf, lame, and mute, which Jesus fulfills in His ministry as noted in Matthew 11:5.
  12. Isaiah 50:4v28Isaiah 50:4 speaks of the Servant who has been given the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to the weary. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus invites the weary to come to Him for rest, demonstrating His role as the ultimate fulfillment of this Servant who provides comfort and wisdom.
  13. Jeremiah 6:16v28Jeremiah 6:16 invites the people to seek the ancient paths and find rest for their souls, which parallels Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-29 to come to Him for rest. Both passages emphasize finding true rest and guidance in God's ways.
  14. Malachi 3:1v10Malachi 3:1 prophesies the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord, which Jesus identifies as John the Baptist in Matthew 11:10.
  15. Malachi 4:5v14Malachi 4:5 prophesies the coming of Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, which Jesus identifies with John the Baptist in Matthew 11:14.
  16. Luke 7:28v11Both Luke 7:28 and Matthew 11:11 record Jesus' statement about John the Baptist being the greatest born of women, yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater, emphasizing the new covenant's transformative power.
  17. Luke 7:34v19In both Luke 7:34 and Matthew 11:19, Jesus is criticized for associating with sinners, highlighting His mission to seek and save the lost, contrasting with the religious leaders' expectations.

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