Matthew 11
English Standard Version
Messengers from John the Baptist
11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 (A)Now when John heard (B)in prison about the deeds of (C)the Christ, he sent word by (D)his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you (E)the one who is to come, or shall we (F)look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 (G)the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and (H)the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who (I)is not offended by me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out (J)into the wilderness to see? (K)A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man[b] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? (L)A prophet?[c] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
(M)“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 (N)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[d] and the violent take it by force. 13 (O)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is (P)Elijah who is to come. 15 (Q)He who has ears to hear,[e] let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came (R)neither eating (S)nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came (T)eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, (U)a friend of (V)tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”[f]
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
20 (W)Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 (X)“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in (Y)Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 (Z)But I tell you, it will be more bearable on (AA)the day of judgment for (AB)Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, (AC)Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to (AD)Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 (AE)But I tell you that (AF)it will be more tolerable on (AG)the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
25 (AH)At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, (AI)Lord of heaven and earth, that (AJ)you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and (AK)revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your (AL)gracious will.[g] 27 (AM)All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son (AN)except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone (AO)to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 (AP)Come to (AQ)me, all who labor and are (AR)heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and (AS)learn from me, for I am (AT)gentle and lowly in heart, and (AU)you will find rest for your souls. 30 For (AV)my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
- Matthew 11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see a man
- Matthew 11:9 Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?
- Matthew 11:12 Or has been coming violently
- Matthew 11:15 Some manuscripts omit to hear
- Matthew 11:19 Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)
- Matthew 11:26 Or for so it pleased you well
Matthew 11
1599 Geneva Bible
11 2 John sendeth his disciples to Christ. 7 Christ’s testimony of John. 13 The Law and the Prophets. 15 Christ and John. 21 Chorazin, Bethsaida. 25 The Gospel revealed to children. 28 They that are weary and laden.
1 And [a]it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of [b]commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in [c]their cities.
2 ¶ (A)And when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him,
3 Art thou he that should come, or shall we look for another?
4 And Jesus answering, said unto them, Go, and show John, what things ye hear and see.
5 The blind receive sight, and the halt do walk: the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, (B)and the poor receive the Gospel.
6 And blessed is he that shall not be offended in me.
7 [d]And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the multitude of John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing, are in kings’ houses.
9 But what went ye out to see? A Prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a Prophet.
10 For this is he of whom it is written, (C)Behold, I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them which are begotten of women, arose there not a greater than John Baptist, notwithstanding, he that is the least in the [e]kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.
12 And from (D)the time of John Baptist hitherto, the kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law [f]prophesied unto John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is (E)that Elijah, which was to come.
15 ¶ He that hath ears to hear let him hear.
16 (F)[g]But whereunto shall I liken this generation? [h]It is like unto little children which sit in the markets, and call unto their fellows,
17 And say, 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 men came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend unto Publicans and sinners: [i]but [j]wisdom is justified of her children.
20 ¶ (G)[k]Then began he to upbraid the cities, wherein most of his great works were done, because they repented not.
21 Woe be to thee Chorazin: Woe be to thee Bethsaida: for if the great works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they had repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say to you, It shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And thou Capernaum, which art lifted up unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the great works, which have been done in thee, had been done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day.
24 But I say unto you, that it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25 (H)At that time Jesus answered and said, I give thee thanks, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise, and men of understanding, and hast [l]opened them unto babes.
26 It is [m]so, O Father, because thy [n]good pleasure was such.
27 (I)[o]All things are given unto me of my Father: and (J)no man knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you.
29 Take my yoke on you, and learn of me that I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find (K)rest unto your souls.
30 (L)For my yoke is [p]easy, and my burden light.
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:1 Christ showeth by his works, that he is the promised Messiah.
- Matthew 11:1 Of instructing them with precepts.
- Matthew 11:1 The disciples’ cities, that is to say, in Galilee, where many of them were born, Acts 2:7.
- Matthew 11:7 What agreement, and what difference is betwixt the ministry of the Prophets, the preaching of John, and the full light of the Gospel, which Christ hath brought.
- Matthew 11:11 In the new state of the Church where the true glory of God shineth: the persons are not compared together, but the kinds of doctrines, the preaching of John with the law and the Prophets, and again, the most clear preaching of the Gospel with John’s.
- Matthew 11:13 They prophesied of things to come, which are now present and clearly and plainly seen.
- Matthew 11:16 There are none more stout and stubborn enemies of the Gospel, than they to whom it ought to be most acceptable.
- Matthew 11:16 He blameth the frowardness of this age, by a proverb, in that they could be moved neither with rough, nor gentle dealing.
- Matthew 11:19 That which the most part refuse, the elect and chosen embrace.
- Matthew 11:19 Wise men do acknowledge the wisdom of the Gospel, when they receive it.
- Matthew 11:20 The proud reject the Gospel offered unto them, to their great hurt and smart which turneth to the salvation of the simple.
- Matthew 11:25 Through the ministry of Christ, who only showeth the truth of all things pertaining to God.
- Matthew 11:26 This word showeth, that he contenteth himself in his father’s counsel.
- Matthew 11:26 God’s will is the only rule of righteousness.
- Matthew 11:27 There is no true knowledge of God, nor quietness of mind, but only in Christ alone.
- Matthew 11:30 May easily be borne. For his commandments are not grievous, for all that is born of God overcometh the world, 1 John 5:4.
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Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
