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。”

耶穌和施洗者約翰

11 耶穌囑咐完十二個門徒,就離開那裡,到附近的城鎮傳道和教導人。

約翰在監獄中聽到基督所做的事,就差兩個門徒去問祂: 「你就是那位我們所等候的救主嗎?還是我們要等別人呢?」

耶穌回答說:「你們回去把所見所聞告訴約翰, 就是瞎子看見,瘸子走路,痲瘋病人得潔淨,聾子聽見,死人復活,窮人聽到福音。 凡對我沒有失去信心的人有福了!」

他們離開後,耶穌對眾人談起約翰,說:「你們從前去曠野要看什麼呢?看隨風搖動的蘆葦嗎? 如果不是,你們到底想看什麼?是看穿綾羅綢緞的人嗎?那些穿綾羅綢緞的人生活在王宮裡。 你們究竟想看什麼?看先知嗎?是的,我告訴你們,他不只是先知。 10 聖經上說,『看啊,我要差遣我的使者在你前面為你預備道路』,這裡所指的就是約翰。 11 我實在告訴你們,凡婦人所生的,沒有一個興起來比施洗者約翰大,然而天國裡最微不足道的也比他大。

12 「從施洗者約翰到現在,天國一直在強勁地擴展著,強勁的人要抓住它。 13 因為到約翰為止,所有的先知和律法都在預言天國的事。 14 如果你們願意接受,約翰就是那要來的以利亞。 15 有耳可聽的都應該留心聽。

16 「這個世代的人好像什麼呢?他們好像一群在街上玩耍的兒童對別的孩子說,

17 『我們吹娶親的樂曲,
你們不跳舞;
我們唱送葬的哀歌,
你們不悲傷。』

18 約翰來了,也不吃也不喝,他們就說他被鬼附身。 19 人子來了,又吃又喝,他們就說祂是貪吃好酒之徒,與稅吏和罪人為友。然而智慧會在她的作為上得到驗證。」

不肯悔改的城

20 那時,耶穌開始責備一些城鎮,因為祂在那裡行了許多神蹟,當地的居民仍不肯悔改。 21 祂說:「哥拉汛啊,你大禍臨頭了!伯賽大啊,你大禍臨頭了!我在你們當中所行的神蹟,如果行在泰爾和西頓,那裡的人早就身披麻衣,頭蒙灰塵,悔改了。 22 所以我告訴你們,在審判之日,你們將比泰爾和西頓受更重的刑罰!

23 「迦百農啊,你將被提升到天上嗎?不!你將被打落到陰間。因為若把在你那裡所行的神蹟行在所多瑪,它肯定會存留到今天。 24 所以我告訴你們,在審判之日,你們將比所多瑪受更重的刑罰!」

勞苦者得安息

25 那時,耶穌說:「父啊,天地的主,我頌讚你,因為你把這些事向聰明、有學問的人隱藏起來,卻啟示給像孩童一般的人。 26 父啊,是的,這正是你的美意。 27 我父將一切交給了我。除了父,沒有人認識子;除了子和受子啟示的人,沒有人認識父。

28 「所有勞苦困乏、背負重擔的人啊,到我這裡來吧!我要賜給你們安息。 29 我心柔和謙卑,你們要負我的軛,向我學習,這樣你們的心靈必得享安息。 30 因為我的軛容易負,我的擔子很輕省。」

約翰派門徒去見耶穌(A)

11 耶穌吩咐完了十二門徒,就離開那裡,在各城裡教導傳道。

約翰在監獄裡聽見基督所作的,就派門徒去問他: “你就是那位要來的,還是我們要等別人呢?” 耶穌回答他們:“你們回去,把聽見和看見的都告訴約翰, 就是瞎的可以看見,瘸的可以走路,患痲風的得到潔淨,聾的可以聽見,死人復活,窮人有福音聽。 那不被我絆倒的,就有福了。”

耶穌論到約翰(B)

他們走了之後,耶穌對群眾講起約翰來,說:“你們到曠野去,是要看甚麼?被風吹動的蘆葦嗎? 你們出去到底要看甚麼?身穿華麗衣裳的人嗎?那些穿著華麗衣裳的人,是在王宮裡的。 那麼,你們出去要看甚麼?先知嗎?我告訴你們,是的。他比先知重要得多了。 10 經上所記:

‘看哪,我差遣我的使者在你面前,

他必在你前頭預備你的道路。’

這句話是指著他說的。 11 我實在告訴你們,婦人所生的,沒有一個比施洗的約翰更大;然而天國裡最小的比他還大。 12 從施洗的約翰的時候直到現在,天國不斷遭受猛烈的攻擊,強暴的人企圖把它奪去。 13 所有的先知和律法,直到約翰為止,都說了預言。 14 如果你們肯接受,約翰就是那要來的以利亞。 15 有耳的,就應當聽。

16 “我要把這世代比作甚麼呢?它好像一些小孩子坐在市中心,呼叫別的小孩子, 17 說:

‘我們給你們吹笛子,你們卻不跳舞;

我們唱哀歌,你們也不捶胸。’

18 約翰來了,不吃也不喝,人說他是鬼附的; 19 人子來了,又吃又喝,人卻說:‘你看,這人貪食好酒,與稅吏和罪人為友。’但智慧藉著它所作的,就證實是公義的了。”

責備不肯悔改的城(C)

20 那時,耶穌開始責備那些他曾在那裡行過許多神蹟的城,因為它們不肯悔改: 21 “哥拉遜啊,你有禍了!伯賽大啊,你有禍了!在你們那裡行過的神蹟,如果行在推羅和西頓,它們早已披麻蒙灰悔改了。 22 但我告訴你們,在審判的日子,推羅和西頓所受的,比你們還輕呢。 23 迦百農啊!

你會被高舉到天上嗎?

你必降到陰間。

在你那裡行過的神蹟,如果行在所多瑪,那城還會存留到今天。 24 但我告訴你們,在審判的日子,所多瑪那地方所受的,比你還輕呢。”

勞苦者可得安息(D)

25 就在那時候,耶穌說:“父啊,天地的主,我讚美你,因為你把這些事向智慧和聰明的人隱藏起來,卻向嬰孩顯明。 26 父啊,是的,這就是你的美意。 27 我父已經把一切交給我;除了父沒有人認識子,除了子和子所願意啟示的人,沒有人認識父。 28 你們所有勞苦擔重擔的人哪,到我這裡來吧!我必使你們得安息。 29 我心裡柔和謙卑,你們應當負我的軛,向我學習,你們就必得著心靈的安息; 30 我的軛是容易負的,我的擔子是輕省的。”

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 to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

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.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

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?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

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.