Matthew 11
International Children’s Bible
Jesus and John the Baptist
11 Jesus finished telling these things to his 12 followers. Then he left there and went to the towns in Galilee to teach and preach.
2 John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about the things the Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus. 3 They asked Jesus, “Are you the man who John said was coming, or should we wait for another one?”
4 Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear and see: 5 The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with harmful skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the Good News is told to the poor. 6 The person who does not lose faith because of me is blessed.”
7 As John’s followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed[a] blown by the wind? No. 8 Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those people who wear fine clothes live in kings’ palaces. 9 So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. 10 This was written about John in the Scriptures:
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare the way for you.’ Malachi 3:1
11 I tell you the truth: John the Baptist is greater than any other man who has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. 12 Since the time John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward in strength. People using force have been trying to take the kingdom. 13 All the prophets and the law of Moses spoke until the time John came. They told about the things that would happen. 14 And if you will believe the things the law and the prophets said, then you will believe that John is Elijah. The law and the prophets said he would come. 15 Let those with ears use them and listen!
16 “What can I say about the people who live today? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group calls to the other,
17 ‘We played music for you, but you did not dance;
we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.’
18 John came, and he did not eat like other people or drink wine. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came, eating and drinking wine, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much. He is a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved to be right by the things it does.”
Jesus Warns Unbelievers
20 Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles. He criticized them because the people there did not change their lives and stop sinning. 21 Jesus said, “How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! I did many miracles in you. If those same miracles had happened in Tyre and Sidon,[b] then the people there would have changed their lives a long time ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show that they had changed. 22 But I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be worse for you than for Tyre and Sidon. 23 And you, Capernaum,[c] will you be lifted up to heaven? No. You will be thrown down to the depths. I did many miracles in you. If those same miracles had happened in Sodom,[d] its people would have stopped sinning, and it would still be a city today. 24 But I tell you it will be worse for you on the Judgment Day than for Sodom.”
Jesus Offers Rest to People
25 Then Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I praise you because you have hidden these things from the people who are wise and smart. But you have shown them to those who are like little children. 26 Yes, Father, this is what you really wanted.
27 “My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son—only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father—only the Son knows the Father. And the only people who will know about the Father are those whom the Son chooses to tell.
28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my work and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will find rest for your souls. 30 The work that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is not heavy.”
Footnotes
- 11:7 reed It means that John was not weak like grass blown by the wind.
- 11:21 Tyre and Sidon Towns where wicked people lived.
- 11:21-23 Korazin . . . Bethsaida . . . Capernaum Towns by Lake Galilee where Jesus preached to the people.
- 11:23 Sodom City that God destroyed because the people were so evil.
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.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
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.
