马太福音 11
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
耶稣和施洗者约翰
11 耶稣嘱咐完十二个门徒，就离开那里，到附近的城镇传道和教导人。
2 约翰在监狱中听到基督所做的事，就差两个门徒去问祂： 3 “你就是那位我们所等候的救主吗？还是我们要等别人呢？”
4 耶稣回答说：“你们回去把所见所闻告诉约翰， 5 就是瞎子看见，瘸子走路，麻风病人得洁净，聋子听见，死人复活，穷人听到福音。 6 凡对我没有失去信心的人有福了！”
7 他们离开后，耶稣对众人谈起约翰，说：“你们从前去旷野要看什么呢？看随风摇动的芦苇吗？ 8 如果不是，你们到底想看什么？是看穿绫罗绸缎的人吗？那些穿绫罗绸缎的人生活在王宫里。 9 你们究竟想看什么？看先知吗？是的，我告诉你们，他不只是先知。 10 圣经上说，‘看啊，我要差遣我的使者在你前面为你预备道路’，这里所指的就是约翰。 11 我实在告诉你们，凡妇人所生的，没有一个兴起来比施洗者约翰大，然而天国里最微不足道的也比他大。
12 “从施洗者约翰到现在，天国一直在强劲地扩展着，强劲的人要抓住它。 13 因为到约翰为止，所有的先知和律法都在预言天国的事。 14 如果你们愿意接受，约翰就是那要来的以利亚。 15 有耳可听的都应该留心听。
16 “这个世代的人好像什么呢？他们好像一群在街上玩耍的儿童对别的孩子说，
17 “‘我们吹娶亲的乐曲，
你们不跳舞；
我们唱送葬的哀歌，
你们不悲伤。’
18 约翰来了，也不吃也不喝，他们就说他被鬼附身。 19 人子来了，又吃又喝，他们就说祂是贪吃好酒之徒，与税吏和罪人为友。然而智慧会在她的作为上得到验证。”
不肯悔改的城
20 那时，耶稣开始责备一些城镇，因为祂在那里行了许多神迹，当地的居民仍不肯悔改。 21 祂说：“哥拉汛啊，你大祸临头了！伯赛大啊，你大祸临头了！我在你们当中所行的神迹，如果行在泰尔和西顿，那里的人早就身披麻衣，头蒙灰尘，悔改了。 22 所以我告诉你们，在审判之日，你们将比泰尔和西顿受更重的刑罚！
23 “迦百农啊，你将被提升到天上吗？不！你将被打落到阴间。因为若把在你那里所行的神迹行在所多玛，它肯定会存留到今天。 24 所以我告诉你们，在审判之日，你们将比所多玛受更重的刑罚！”
劳苦者得安息
25 那时，耶稣说：“父啊，天地的主，我颂赞你，因为你把这些事向聪明、有学问的人隐藏起来，却启示给像孩童一般的人。 26 父啊，是的，这正是你的美意。 27 我父将一切交给了我。除了父，没有人认识子；除了子和受子启示的人，没有人认识父。
28 “所有劳苦困乏、背负重担的人啊，到我这里来吧！我要赐给你们安息。 29 我心柔和谦卑，你们要负我的轭，向我学习，这样你们的心灵必得享安息。 30 因为我的轭容易负，我的担子很轻省。”
Matthew 11
Lexham English Bible
A Question from John the Baptist
11 And it happened that when Jesus had finished giving orders to his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and to preach in their towns. 2 Now when[a] John[b] heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent word[c] by his disciples 3 and[d] said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered and[e] said to them, “Go and[f] tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.[g] 6 And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”
7 Now as[h] these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings. 9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet?[i] Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 10 It is this man about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’[j]
11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 But from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is treated violently, and the violent claim[k] it. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it,[l] he is Elijah, the one who is going to come. 15 The one who has ears, let him hear!
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, 17 saying,
‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;
we sang a lament and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, 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 a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”[m]
Woes Pronounced on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then he began to reproach the towns in which the majority of his miracles had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24 Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”
A Yoke That Is Easy
25 At that time Jesus answered and[n] said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.[o] 26 Yes, Father, for to do so was your gracious will.[p] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom[q] the Son wants to reveal him.[r] 28 Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:2 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 11:2 That is, John the Baptist
- Matthew 11:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 11:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent” in the previous verse) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:5 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 11:7 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were going away”)
- Matthew 11:9 Some manuscripts have “But what did you go out to see? A prophet?”
- Matthew 11:10 A quotation from Mal 3:1; cf. Mark 1:2
- Matthew 11:12 Or “seize”
- Matthew 11:14 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 11:19 Many Greek manuscripts, including most later ones, read “children”
- Matthew 11:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:25 Or perhaps “to the childlike,” or “to the innocent”
- Matthew 11:26 Literally “was pleasing before you”
- Matthew 11:27 Literally “to whomever”
- Matthew 11:27 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
Matthew 11
New Catholic Bible
Jesus Is the Expected Messiah[a]
Jesus and John the Baptist[b]
Chapter 11
Report to John What You Hear and See.[c] 1 When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
2 When John who was in prison heard what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,[d] or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go back and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”[e]
John Is the Elijah Who Was Destined To Return.[f] 7 As John’s disciples were departing, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 Then what did you go out to see? Someone robed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are found in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women, no one has been greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.[g] 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and the violent are taking it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until the arrival of John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was destined to return. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
16 Indecisive Children.[h]“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another:
17 ‘We played the flute for you,
but you would not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you refused to mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Yet wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
20 Woe to the Cities of Galilee.[i] Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his mighty deeds had been performed because they had refused to repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty deeds performed in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And as for you, Capernaum:
‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will be cast down to the netherworld.’
For if the mighty deeds performed in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would be standing to this day. 24 But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.”
25 The Self-Revelation of Jesus.[j] At that time, Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to children. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
27 “All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
28 The Gentle Mastery of Christ.[k]“Come to me, all you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:1 To be committed to Christ means to acknowledge him as the expected Messiah. By his words and his actions, he takes a clear position toward John and toward the Pharisees. To decide for Christ means to discover the inner life of Jesus. It is not right to proclaim the coming of the kingdom; we are invited to experience it, to experience the power of God. The following passages enable us to question ourselves about our faith.
- Matthew 11:1 In striking images John had proclaimed the time of wrath and the purification by God. Jesus himself had joined in this movement of renewal. Now the prophet is in prison, the victim of his mission. All around Jesus the enthusiasm of the crowds concerning John begins to falter. How then can they be made to acknowledge the awaited Messianic revolution consisting in the decisive judgment of the wicked and the liberation of the righteous (Mt 3:12)? But then who is the Messiah and what is the kingdom of God? One must pass from questioning to decision, to the act of faith in Jesus.
- Matthew 11:1 By letting John know that the announcement of the Prophets is being fulfilled (Isa 26:19; 29:18; 35:5f; 61:1), Jesus reassures him and places him on guard against an overly human idea of the Messiah; he encourages the Baptist to persevere in faith until the end. The kingdom of God is not to be confused with the accomplishment of our projects and our human victories; it is a gift of God.
- Matthew 11:3 The one who is to come: i.e., the Messiah. Wait for another: it is not clear whether John is uncertain about Jesus or is simply sending his disciples to Jesus.
- Matthew 11:6 Takes no offense at me: literally, “is not scandalized,” that is, for whom I am not a hindrance or stumbling block (Greek: skandalon). It is from the idea of a stumbling block on the way of goodness that “scandal” derives its moral meaning, in both the active sense of giving scandal and the passive sense of taking scandal. In current idiom, a bad example is called “scandalous” when it causes a stir.
- Matthew 11:7 Jesus eulogizes the strength of John the Baptist’s religious convictions, the austerity of his life (v. 7f), and his unique prophetic role as precursor of the kingdom of God, which for Jesus is the salvation of human beings (vv. 4-5), not political revolution or the acquisition of power.
- Matthew 11:11 John’s greatness consists primarily in his task of announcing the imminence of the kingdom of God (Mt 3:1). Yet to be a member of the kingdom is so sublime a privilege that even the least member is greater than the Baptist!
- Matthew 11:16 Indecisive children do not want to play either at a wedding when a flute is sounded or at a funeral when a dirge is sung; such are the Jews who reject the salvation that God offers them: the severity of John frightens them and the goodness of Jesus shocks them. People often hesitate as much before joy as before repentance! But the kingdom of God does not wait; God realizes here below his plan—his “Wisdom”—as the acts of John and Jesus bear witness.
- Matthew 11:20 The fate of the privileged cities of Chorazin (about two miles from Capernaum) and Bethsaida (on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee) will be worse than that of cities traditionally regarded as godless (Tyre and Sidon: Am 1:9f; 1 Sam 23; Ezek 26–28; Zec 9:2-4) or wicked (Sodom: Gen 18:16-19; Ezek 16:46-56), which did not have the opportunity to witness Jesus’ miracles and hear his preaching as had the people in most of Galilee. The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida have failed to recognize the presence of God in Jesus because they wanted to avoid penance. The same is true for the people of Capernaum, Jesus’ headquarters on the north shore of Galilee (see Mt 4:13).
- Matthew 11:25 The self-revelation of Jesus reached one of its high points in this moving prayer. It enables us to enter into the most hidden core of his life, into his innermost experiences. Between him and the Father there is an exchange of life, a profound and unique bond, a mutual commitment of their entire being—in short, an inexpressibly mysterious oneness. In the Bible, all this is summed up in the verb “know.” This is why Jesus alone can reveal to other human beings who the Father is for them.
- Matthew 11:28 Yoke and burden evoke the Mosaic Law. The law of Christ is sweet, for it is not a list of customs, obligations, and conventions but primarily the sharing of a life, an apprenticeship of love.
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