Matthew 11WEB
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Matthew11

World English Bible · Public Domain

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.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 11.

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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.

Cross References

Matthew 11
v5Isaiah 35:4-6fulfillment

Isaiah prophesied that when God comes to save, the blind see, deaf hear, and lame leap.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Malachi 3:1quotation

Directly quoted by Jesus to identify John the Baptist as the messenger preparing His way.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v14Malachi 4:5fulfillment

Prophetic promise of Elijah's coming, which Jesus declares is fulfilled in John the Baptist.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Luke 10:21-24thematic

Parallel account of Jesus thanking the Father for hiding truth from the wise and revealing it to babes.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v29Jeremiah 6:16allusion

Echoes the promise of finding 'rest for your souls' by walking in the good way.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v4John 5:36thematic

Jesus points to His works as a greater witness to His identity than John's testimony.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Isaiah 61:1-3fulfillment

Prophetic mandate of the Messiah preaching the gospel to the poor and comforting the brokenhearted.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v7Luke 7:24-30thematic

Parallel discourse concerning John's identity, the reed in the wind, and soft clothing.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v20Luke 10:13-15thematic

Identical woes pronounced on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their unrepentance.

Supported by JFB

v23Isaiah 14:13-15allusion

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

v8Matthew 3:4thematic

Contrasts the 'soft raiment' of kings' houses with John's actual camel hair clothing.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v14Luke 1:17fulfillment

Gabriel's prophecy that John would minister in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v19Luke 7:34thematic

Exact parallel account describing the accusation of being a glutton and winebibber.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v29Zechariah 9:9typology

Prophecy of the coming King who is 'meek' and bringing salvation.

Supported by Matthew Henry