Matthew 11
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
After Commissioning The Twelve, Jesus Moves On To Teach In Other Cities
11 And it came about that when Jesus finished giving-directions to His twelve disciples, He passed-on from there that He might teach and proclaim in their cities.
John The Baptist Asks, Are You The King? Jesus Points Him To His Works
2 Now John[a], having in prison heard-of the works of the Christ, having sent through his disciples, 3 said to Him, “Are You the One coming[b], or should we be looking-for a different one?” 4 And having responded, Jesus said to them, “Having gone, report to John the things which you are hearing and seeing[c]— 5 blind ones are seeing-again and lame ones are walking. Lepers are being cleansed and deaf ones are hearing. And dead ones are being raised and poor ones are having-good-news-announced[d] to them. 6 And blessed is whoever does not take-offense[e] in Me”.
Jesus Says John The Baptist Is The Fulfillment of The Prophecies of Malachi
7 And while these ones were proceeding, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John— “What[f] did you go out into the wilderness to look-at? A reed being shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man having been dressed in soft garments? Behold— the ones wearing the soft garments are in the houses of kings! 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 This one is about whom it has been written [in Mal 3:1]: ‘Behold— I am sending-forth My messenger ahead of Your presence, who will make Your way ready in front of You’. 11 Truly I say to you, a greater[g] one than John the Baptist has not arisen among ones born of women. But the least[h] one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater[i] than he. 12 But the kingdom of the heavens is being treated-violently[j] from the days of John the Baptist until now, and violent ones are snatching it away. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he himself is Elijah— the one going-to[k] come. 15 Let the one having ears hear[l].
But This Generation Rejects Both The One Preparing And The One Who Came
16 “But to what will I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who, calling to the others, 17 say ‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance. We lamented[m] and you did not beat-your-breast[n]’. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking[o], and they say ‘He has a demon’. 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say ‘Behold— a man who is a glutton and drunkard[p], a friend of tax-collectors and sinners’. And wisdom was vindicated[q] by her works[r]”.
Woe To You Cities Who Have Seen My Works And Not Repented
20 Then He began to reproach[s] the cities in which most-of [t] His miracles took place, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles having taken place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless[u] I say to you— it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted up to heaven? You will go-down as far as Hades. Because if the miracles having taken place in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you”.
It Pleases God To Hide The Kingdom From The Wise And Reveal It To The Childlike
25 At that time, having responded, Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that[v] You hid these things from wise ones and intelligent ones, and You revealed them to children[w]. 26 Yes, Father, because[x] in-this-manner it became well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things were handed-over to Me by My Father. And no one knows[y] the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom[z] the Son wills[aa] to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all the ones being weary and having been burdened[ab], and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy[ac], and My burden[ad] is light”.
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:2 Matthew now uses John to ‘prepare the way’ again by asking the key question, Are You the One? What follows details how Jesus both hid and revealed the answer as He responded to opposition and continued His words of revelation, culminating in the response of Peter in 16:16.
- Matthew 11:3 Or, the coming One. That is, the Messiah.
- Matthew 11:4 As His answer, Jesus lists things Isaiah prophesied that Messiah would do. His works answer John’s question.
- Matthew 11:5 Or, are being evangelized, are being told good news.
- Matthew 11:6 Or, is not caused to fall by Me.
- Matthew 11:7 Or, Why. In this case the three questions would be punctuated this way: Why did you go out into the wilderness? To look-at a reed...?
- Matthew 11:11 That is, greater in character, in obedience to God; or, greater in what John would know and do with regard to the Messiah.
- Matthew 11:11 Or, lesser.
- Matthew 11:11 That is, in privilege, as adult family members, co-heirs with the King. John belongs to the OT period of childhood.
- Matthew 11:12 treated violently... violent ones are snatching it away. That is, the kingdom is being attacked by enemies like Herod and the Pharisees, who are snatching away the people and the message of the kingdom; or, the kingdom is ‘forcefully advancing’ (or passively, is being forced, taken by storm), and the ‘forceful’ (in a positive sense, the spiritually bold) are ‘seizing hold’ of it; or, the kingdom is ‘suffering violence’, and the violent ones (like the Zealots) are trying to establish it by force.
- Matthew 11:14 That is, according to Mal 4:5-6.
- Matthew 11:15 If John is Elijah, then Jesus is Messiah.
- Matthew 11:17 Or, sang a funeral song.
- Matthew 11:17 That is, in mourning.
- Matthew 11:18 That is, John did not socialize with them. Jesus did the opposite, eating and drinking with all the people. The Jews rejected them both.
- Matthew 11:19 Jesus associates with people who eat and drink too much, so He must be guilty of the same! Yet He was no more guilty of this than that John had a demon.
- Matthew 11:19 Or, declared right.
- Matthew 11:19 That is, the results it produced.
- Matthew 11:20 Or, scold, reprimand.
- Matthew 11:20 Or, His very great miracles.
- Matthew 11:22 That is, in spite of the fact that they did not repent and were judged by God, I say to you by comparison. Or, But. But in contrast to what you may think about them, I say to you.
- Matthew 11:25 Or, because.
- Matthew 11:25 Or, childlike ones.
- Matthew 11:26 Or, that; Yes, Father, I praise you that.
- Matthew 11:27 Or, understands, fully-knows; knows as a family member.
- Matthew 11:27 Or, to whomever.
- Matthew 11:27 Or, wishes, wants, desires.
- Matthew 11:28 That is, loaded down with burdens to carry, given a heavy yoke to pull.
- Matthew 11:30 Lit, good, with the sense of what one carrying a load would consider good: easy, pleasant.
- Matthew 11:30 Or, load, cargo.
Matthew 11
New International Reader's Version
Jesus and John the Baptist
11 Jesus finished teaching his 12 disciples. Then he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2 John the Baptist was in prison. When he heard about the actions of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him. 3 They asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back to John. Report to him what you hear and see. 5 Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are made ‘clean.’ Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not give up their faith because of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, “What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. People who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare your way for you.’ (Malachi 3:1)
11 What I’m about to tell you is true. No one more important than John the Baptist has ever been born. But the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is more important than he is. 12 Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack. And violent people are taking hold of it. 13 All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came. 14 If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come. 15 Whoever has ears should listen.
16 “What can I compare today’s people to? They are like children sitting in the markets and calling out to others. They say,
17 “ ‘We played the flute for you.
But you didn’t dance.
We sang a funeral song.
But you didn’t become sad.’
18 When John came, he didn’t eat or drink as you do. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And people say, ‘This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ By wise actions wisdom is shown to be right.”
Towns That Do Not Turn Away From Sin
20 Jesus began to speak against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins. So he said, 21 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes. 22 But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today. 24 But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.”
Rest for All Who Are Tired
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. 26 Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.
27 “My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.
28 “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29 Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 30 Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
