Matthew11
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.
2Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples
3and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see:
5the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them.
6And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.
7And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?
8But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses.
9But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
10This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.
11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.
13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14And if ye are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, that is to come.
15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows
17and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.
19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.
21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, 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 say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.
23And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.
24But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:
26yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.
27All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.
28Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 11.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ's preaching. (1). Christ's answer to John's disciples. (2–6). Christ's testimony to John the Baptist. (7–15). The perverseness of the Jews. (16–24). The gospel revealed to the simple. The heavy-laden invited. (25–30).
v1
Our Divine Redeemer never was weary of his labour of love; and we should not be weary of well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
vv2-6
Some think that John sent this inquiry for his own satisfaction. Where there is true faith, yet there may be a mixture of unbelief. The remaining unbelief of good men may sometimes, in an hour of temptation; call in question the most important truths. But we hope that John's faith did not fail in this matter, and that he only desired to have it strengthened and confirmed. Others think that John sent his disciples to Christ for their satisfaction. Christ points them to what they heard and saw. Christ's gracious condescensions and compassions to the poor, show that it was he that should bring to the world the tender mercies of our God. Those things which men see and hear, if compared with the Scriptures, direct in what way salvation is to be found. It is difficult to conquer prejudices, and dangerous not to conquer them; but those who believe in Christ, their faith will be found so much the more to praise, and honour, and glory.
vv7-15
What Christ said concerning John, was not only for his praise, but for the people's profit. Those who attend on the word will be called to give an account of their improvements. Do we think when the sermon is done, the care is over? No, then the greatest of the care begins. John was a self-denying man, dead to all the pomps of the world and the pleasures of sense. It becomes people, in all their appearances, to be consistent with their character and their situation. John was a great and good man, yet not perfect; therefore he came short of glorified saints. The least in heaven knows more, loves more, and does more in praising God, and receives more from him, than the greatest in this world. But by the kingdom of heaven here, is rather to be understood the kingdom of grace, the gospel dispensation in its power and purity. What reason we have to be thankful that our lot is cast in the days of the kingdom of heaven, under such advantages of light and love! Multitudes were wrought upon by the ministry of John, and became his disciples. And those strove for a place in this kingdom, that one would think had no right nor title to it, and so seemed to be intruders. It shows us what fervency and zeal are required of all. Self must be denied; the bent, the frame and temper of the mind must be altered. Those who will have an interest in the great salvation, will have it upon any terms, and not think them hard, nor quit their hold without a blessing. The things of God are of great and common concern. God requires no more from us than the right use of the faculties he has given us. People are ignorant, because they will not learn.
Key Words
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
γίνομαι (gínomai): to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
τελέω (teléō): to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt)
διατάσσω (diatássō): to arrange thoroughly, i.e. (specially) institute, prescribe, etc.
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
δώδεκα (dṓdeka): two and ten, i.e. a dozen
μαθητής (mathētḗs): a learner, i.e. pupil
μεταβαίνω (metabaínō): to change place
ἐκεῖθεν (ekeîthen): thence
διδάσκω (didáskō): to teach (in the same broad application)
Cross References
Matthew 11Isaiah prophesied that when God comes to save, the blind see, deaf hear, and lame leap.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Directly quoted by Jesus to identify John the Baptist as the messenger preparing His way.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic promise of Elijah's coming, which Jesus declares is fulfilled in John the Baptist.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of Jesus thanking the Father for hiding truth from the wise and revealing it to babes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes the promise of finding 'rest for your souls' by walking in the good way.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus points to His works as a greater witness to His identity than John's testimony.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic mandate of the Messiah preaching the gospel to the poor and comforting the brokenhearted.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel discourse concerning John's identity, the reed in the wind, and soft clothing.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical woes pronounced on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their unrepentance.
Supported by JFB
Capernaum's boast of being 'exalted to heaven' and its descent echoes the doom of Babylon.
Supported by JFB
Paul echoes how God chooses the foolish and weak to shame the wise and mighty.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the 'soft raiment' of kings' houses with John's actual camel hair clothing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Gabriel's prophecy that John would minister in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Exact parallel account describing the accusation of being a glutton and winebibber.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophecy of the coming King who is 'meek' and bringing salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry