1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a rich and complex narrative that covers various themes and teachings of Jesus Christ. This chapter presents us with an intimate portrayal of the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist, the presentation of the Kingdom of God, and the divine wisdom and power of God. It also explores the themes of unbelief and judgment, and the invitation to find rest in Christ. This essay aims to dissect these themes and provide a comprehensive understanding of the chapter.
The chapter begins with John the Baptist, who is in prison at the time, sending his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3 KJV). This question reveals John's doubts and confusion about the identity of Jesus. Despite being the one who baptized Jesus and witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon Him, John is uncertain if Jesus is indeed the expected Messiah. This doubt could be attributed to the fact that Jesus did not fit the conventional expectations of a Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman rule.
In response, Jesus tells John's disciples to report what they have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. By referencing these miracles, which are fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies, Jesus affirms His identity as the Messiah.
After John's disciples depart, Jesus speaks to the multitudes about John, describing him as more than a prophet and the one who was prophesied by Malachi to prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus also asserts that "Among those that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11 KJV). However, he adds that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John, suggesting that the New Covenant brought by Jesus offers a superior relationship with God.
In Matthew 11:12-15, Jesus introduces a complex and paradoxical concept of the kingdom of heaven. He states that "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12 KJV). This could be interpreted as the kingdom of God being forcefully advanced by the faithful, or it being violently opposed by those who reject it. Jesus also reiterates that John is the prophesied Elijah, further affirming the arrival of the kingdom of God.
The chapter then shifts to Jesus denouncing the cities in which He performed most of His miracles, namely Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, because they did not repent. Despite witnessing His mighty works, these cities remained unrepentant and unbelieving. Jesus warns that they will face severer judgment than the infamous cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, which were destroyed for their wickedness.
In this section, Jesus highlights the serious consequences of unbelief and the importance of repentance. It also underscores the fact that witnessing miracles does not automatically lead to faith, but faith requires a humble and repentant heart.
In verses 25-27, Jesus offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God, acknowledging that God has hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to babes. Here, Jesus contrasts worldly wisdom with divine wisdom, emphasizing that understanding God's revelation requires a childlike faith and humility.
Jesus also declares His unique relationship with the Father, stating, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him" (Matthew 11:27 KJV). This verse affirms the divinity of Jesus and His exclusive authority to reveal God to mankind.
The chapter concludes with one of the most comforting passages in the Bible, where Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. He offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light, contrasting the heavy burdens imposed by the religious leaders of the time.
Jesus' invitation is not just for physical rest, but for spiritual rest – a rest from striving to earn God's favor through works, a rest from the guilt of sin, and a rest in the assurance of salvation. This invitation reveals the compassionate heart of Jesus and His desire for a personal relationship with each of us.
In conclusion, Matthew 11 presents a multifaceted picture of Jesus – as the confirmed Messiah, the bringer of the kingdom of God, the judge of unbelief, the revealer of divine wisdom, and the giver of rest. This chapter challenges us to examine our understanding of Jesus, our response to His works, and our acceptance of His invitation to find rest in Him.
Share this page