12 And (A)from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is (B)Elijah who [a]was to come. 15 (C)The one who has ears to hear, [b]let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not [c]mourn.’ 18 For John came neither (D)eating nor (E)drinking, and they say, ‘(F)He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [d]heavy drinker, (G)a friend of tax collectors and [e]sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The Unrepenting Cities

20 Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His [f](H)miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 (I)Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, (J)Bethsaida! For if the [g]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in (K)Tyre and (L)Sidon, they would have repented long ago in [h](M)sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, (N)it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on (O)the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, (P)Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be (Q)brought down to (R)Hades! For if the [i]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in (S)Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that (T)it will be more tolerable for the land of (U)Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

25 [j](V)At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, (W)Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that (X)You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, (Y)Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. 27 (Z)All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father (AA)except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.

28 (AB)Come to Me, all [k]who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and (AC)learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and (AD)you will find [l]rest for your souls. 30 For (AE)My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come
  2. Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!
  3. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
  4. Matthew 11:19 Or wine drinker
  5. Matthew 11:19 I.e., irreligious Jews
  6. Matthew 11:20 Or works of power
  7. Matthew 11:21 Or works of power
  8. Matthew 11:21 I.e., symbols of mourning
  9. Matthew 11:23 Or works of power
  10. Matthew 11:25 Or On that occasion
  11. Matthew 11:28 Or who work to exhaustion
  12. Matthew 11:29 Or a resting place

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[a] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(A) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(B) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(C)

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(D) nor drinking,(E) 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.’(F) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns(G)

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!(H) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,(I) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.(J) 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.(K) 23 And you, Capernaum,(L) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[b](M) 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.”(N)

The Father Revealed in the Son(O)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,(P) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.(Q) 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me(R) by my Father.(S) 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.(T)

28 “Come to me,(U) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(V) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(W) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(X) 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
  2. Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead