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。

约翰在监狱中听到基督所做的事,就差两个门徒去问祂: “你就是那位我们所等候的救主吗?还是我们要等别人呢?”

耶稣回答说:“你们回去把所见所闻告诉约翰, 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。 凡对我没有失去信心的人有福了!”

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? 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。 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。”

11 And it came about when he finished giving directives to his Shneym Asar Talmidim, he moved on from there, exercising the ministry of moreh (teacher) and darshan (preacher, maggid) in their shtetlach.

Now when Yochanan, in the beit hasohor (prison), heard of the maasei haMoshiach (works of Moshiach), he sent his talmidim to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

They asked him, Tell us. Are you Hu Habah (He who comes) or is our chikiah (wait) to be for the Bias (Coming) of another?

And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answered them, saying, Go give the report of what you see and hear to Yochanan:

The ivrim (blind people) see, the pisechim (lame people) walk, the metzoraim (lepers) are cleansed, the chereshim (deaf people) hear, the mesim are made to stand up alive, and the aniyim (poor) have the Besuras HaGeulah preached to them. [Isa 35:5f; 61:1]

Ashrey (Happy) is the one who does not find a cause of michshol (falling, stumbling) in me [as Moshiach].

As they were leaving, he began to speak to the multitudes about Yochanan, What did you go out into the midbar (wilderness) to see? A reed being shaken by the wind?

What did you go out to see? Someone shtats (imposing, impressive) in appearance, attired in soft raiment? Hinei, the ones wearing soft raiment are in houses of melachim (kings).

But what did you go out to see? A Navi? Ken, I tell you. And one greater than a Navi.

10 This is he about whom it has been written, HINNENI SHOLEIACH MALACHI (Behold, I will send my messenger) before your face, UPINNAH DERECH LEFANAI (and he will prepare the way before me, [SHEMOT 23:20; MALACHI 3:1]).

11 Omein, I say to you, of those born of women, there has not appeared one greater than Yochanan of the tevilah of teshuva, yet the person with the least chashivut in the Malchut HaShomayim is greater than he.

12 From the days of Yochanan of the tevilah of teshuva until now, the Malchut HaShomayim has been under violent attack and the violent seize it with coercion.

13 For all the Neviim and the Torah prophesied until Yochanan.

14 And, if you are willing it to be mekabel (accept, receive), he is the “Eliyahu,” who is to come [MALACHI 3:23].

15 The one having ears, let him hear.

16 But to what will I compare this generation? It is like yeladim sitting in the marketplaces, calling out to one another,

17 We played the chalil (flute) for you, but you did not dance; we sang a kina (lament, funeral dirge) for you, and you did not mourn.

18 For Yochanan came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a shed.

19 The Ben HaAdam [Moshiach] came eating and drinking, and they say, Hinei! A zolel (glutton) and a shikkor (drunkard), a friend of mochesim (tax collectors) and choteim (sinners). Yet, Chochmah (Wisdom) is vindicated by her maasim.

20 Then he began to reproach the shtetlach (villages) in which were accomplished most of his gevurot (mighty deeds), because they did not make teshuva.

21 Oy l’chah (Woe to you!), Korazin! Oy l’chah, Beit Tzaidah! For if in Tzor and Tzidon were accomplished the gevurot that were accomplished among you, they would have made teshuva long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 Nevertheless, I say to you, it will be more bearable for Tzor and Tzidon than for you on Yom HaDin.

23 And you, Kfar-Nachum, were you lifted up as far as Shomayim? You shall be brought down as far as Sheol [YESHAYAH 14:13,15]. For if in Sdom were accomplished the gevurot that were accomplished among you, Sdom would have a sheerit (remnant) today!

24 Nevertheless, I say to you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sdom on Yom HaDin than for you.

25 At that time, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Modeh Ani, Avi, Adon HaShomayim vHaAretz, (I thank you, Father, L-rd of Heaven and Earth), because you hid these things from the chachamim (wise) and those with seichel, and to them they are nistar (hidden, esoteric), and you made a hisgalus (revelation) of them unto ollelim (infants).

26 Ken, Avi, for thus it was pleasing in your sight.

27 All things were given to me by Avi, and no one has daas (knowledge) of HaBen except HaAv, nor does anyone have daas of HaAv, except HaBen, and anyone to whom HaBen chooses to unveil him.

28 Come to me, all you who are burden-weary and heavy laden, and I will give you Shabbos menuchah.

29 Take my ol (yoke) upon you and learn from me, for I am anav (humble) and have shiflut (lowliness) in lev (heart), and you will find menuchah (rest, security [RUTH 1:9]) for your nefashot (souls, YIRMEYAH 6:16].

30 For my [Moshiach’s] ol (yoke) is easy and my burden is light. [See Mt 23:4]