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11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns.

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus(A)

Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah,[a] he sent a message[b] by his disciples and asked him, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and observe: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”

As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings’ houses. Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 10 This is the man about whom it is written,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c]

11 I tell all of you[d] with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from[e] heaven is greater than he.

12 “From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from[f] heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it, 13 because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John. 14 If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.[g] 15 Let the person who has ears[h] listen!

16 “To what can I compare the people living today? They’re[i] like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,

17 ‘A wedding song we played for you,
    the dance you all did scorn.
A woeful dirge we chanted, too,
    but then you would not mourn.’

18 Because John didn’t come eating or drinking, yet people[j] say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Absolved from every act of sin,
    is wisdom by her kith and kin.”[k]

Jesus Denounces Unrepentant Cities(B)

20 Then Jesus[l] began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn’t repent. 21 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for you!

23 “And you, Capernaum! You won’t be lifted up to heaven, will you? You’ll go down to Hell![m] Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for you!”

Jesus Praises the Father and Invites the Disciples to Come to Him(C)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you. 27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Place my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble,[n] and you will find rest for your souls,[o] 30 because my yoke is pleasant,[p] and my burden is light.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:2 Or Christ
  2. Matthew 11:2 The Gk. lacks a message
  3. Matthew 11:10 Cf. Mal 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:11 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  5. Matthew 11:11 Lit. of
  6. Matthew 11:12 Lit. of
  7. Matthew 11:14 Or is about to come
  8. Matthew 11:15 Other mss. read ears to hear
  9. Matthew 11:16 Lit. compare this generation? It’s
  10. Matthew 11:18 Lit. they
  11. Matthew 11:19 Lit. by all her children; other mss. read by her actions
  12. Matthew 11:20 Lit. he
  13. Matthew 11:23 Lit. Hades; i.e. the realm of the dead
  14. Matthew 11:29 Lit. humble in heart
  15. Matthew 11:29 Cf. Jer 6:16
  16. Matthew 11:30 Or kind

Jesus and John the Baptist(A)

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,(B) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

When John,(C) who was in prison,(D) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(E) or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(F) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(G)

As John’s(H) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(I) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?(J) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,(K)
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c](L)

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(M) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(N) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(O)

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating(P) nor drinking,(Q) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(R) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns(S)

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!(T) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,(U) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.(V) 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.(W) 23 And you, Capernaum,(X) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e](Y) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”(Z)

The Father Revealed in the Son(AA)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,(AB) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.(AC) 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me(AD) by my Father.(AE) No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.(AF)

28 “Come to me,(AG) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(AH) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(AI) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(AJ) 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
  2. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
  5. Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead