論施洗約翰

11 當耶穌吩咐完了他的十二個門徒,就離開了那裡,到各城鎮去傳道、教導人。 約翰在監獄裡聽說了基督所做的事,就派自己的幾個[a]門徒去 問耶穌:「將要來的那一位就是你嗎?還是我們應該等候別人呢?」

耶穌回答他們,說:「你們去把所聽見、所看見的告訴約翰 就是:瞎眼的得以看見,瘸腿的行走,痲瘋病人被潔淨,耳聾的聽見,死人得以復活,窮人得以聽到福音。 凡不因我被絆倒[b]的人,就蒙福了。」

約翰的門徒們走了,耶穌就開始對眾人談論約翰,說:「你們曾經到曠野去,是要觀看什麼呢?一根被風吹動的蘆葦嗎? 你們出去,究竟是要看什麼呢?一個身穿細軟衣服的人嗎?看哪,那些穿細軟衣服的人在王宮裡。 你們出去,究竟是要看什麼呢?一位先知嗎?是的,我告訴你們:他比先知還大。 10 他就是經上記載的那個人:

『看哪,我要差派我的使者在你前頭,
他要在你之前預備你的道[c]。』[d]

11 「我確實地告訴你們:在女人所生的人中,沒有出現過一個比施洗者[e]約翰更大的;然而在天國裡,再小的也比約翰更大。 12 從施洗者[f]約翰的日子到現在,天國是努力爭取的,努力爭取的人就得著它。[g] 13 約翰之前,所有的先知和律法都說預言。 14 如果你們願意接受,約翰就是那位要來的以利亞 15 凡是有耳的[h],就應當聽!

麻木的世代

16 「我要把這世代比做什麼呢?它就好比孩子們坐在街市上呼叫別的孩子, 17 說:

『我們為你們吹笛,
你們卻不跳舞;
我們唱哀歌,
你們也不捶胸。』

18 「因為約翰來了,不吃也不喝,他們就說:『他有鬼魔附身!』 19 人子來了,也吃也喝,他們就說:『看,這個貪食好酒的人!稅吏和罪人的朋友!』然而,智慧是憑著智慧的行為[i]被證明為義的。」

20 接著,耶穌開始斥責那些他曾經在其中行了許多神蹟的城市,因為那裡的人不肯悔改: 21 哥拉汛哪,你有禍了!伯賽達呀,你有禍了!因為在你們當中行過的神蹟,如果行在提爾西頓,那裡的人早就會披麻蒙灰悔改了。 22 不過我告訴你們:在那審判的日子,提爾西頓所受的,將要比你們還容易受呢! 23 而你——迦百農啊,你將被高舉到天上嗎?不,你將下到陰間。因為在你中間行過的神蹟,如果行在所多瑪,它就會存留到今天。 24 不過我告訴你們:在那審判的日子,所多瑪之地所受的,將要比你還容易受呢!」

到主那裡得安息

25 那時候,耶穌說:「父啊,天地的主,我讚美[j]你,因為你把這些事向有智慧的和有學問的人隱藏起來,而向小孩子們顯明出來。 26 是的,父啊!因為這正是你的美意。 27 我父把一切都交給了我。除了父,沒有人認識子;除了子和子所願意啟示的人,也沒有人認識父。

28 「所有勞苦和背負重擔的人哪,到我這裡來吧!我將使你們得到安息。 29 你們當負起我的軛,向我學,因為我心地柔和、謙卑。這樣,你們就將尋得靈魂的安息。 30 要知道,我的軛是容易負的,我的擔子是輕省的。」

Footnotes

  1. 馬太福音 11:2 幾個——有古抄本作「兩個」。
  2. 馬太福音 11:6 被絆倒——或譯作「放棄信仰」。
  3. 馬太福音 11:10 道——或譯作「路」。
  4. 馬太福音 11:10 《瑪拉基書》3:1。
  5. 馬太福音 11:11 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  6. 馬太福音 11:12 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  7. 馬太福音 11:12 天國是努力爭取的,努力爭取的人就得著它。——或譯作「天國受到強烈的攻擊,強者奪取它。」
  8. 馬太福音 11:15 有耳的——有古抄本作「有耳可聽的」。
  9. 馬太福音 11:19 行為——有古抄本作「兒女」。
  10. 馬太福音 11:25 讚美——或譯作「感謝」。

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

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]