Matthew 11:1-19
Modern English Version
11 When Jesus finished instructing His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
The Messengers From John the Baptist(A)
2 Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You He who should come, or should we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 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.[a] 6 Blessed is he who does not fall away because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Look, I am sending My messenger before Your face,
who will prepare Your way before You.’[b]
11 Truly I say to you, among those who are born of women, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. But he who 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 forcefully advanced, and the strong take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah, who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, calling to their friends, 17 saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge to you,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a gluttonous man, a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 11:5 Taken from Isa 35:5–6; 61:1.
- Matthew 11:10 Mal 3:1.
Matthew 11:1-19
Lexham English Bible
A Question from John the Baptist
11 And it happened that when Jesus had finished giving orders to his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and to preach in their towns. 2 Now when[a] John[b] heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent word[c] by his disciples 3 and[d] said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered and[e] said to them, “Go and[f] tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.[g] 6 And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”
7 Now as[h] these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings. 9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet?[i] Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 10 It is this man about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’[j]
11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 But from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is treated violently, and the violent claim[k] it. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it,[l] he is Elijah, the one who is going to come. 15 The one who has ears, let him hear!
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, 17 saying,
‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;
we sang a lament and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”[m]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 11:2 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 11:2 That is, John the Baptist
- Matthew 11:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 11:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent” in the previous verse) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 11:5 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 11:7 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were going away”)
- Matthew 11:9 Some manuscripts have “But what did you go out to see? A prophet?”
- Matthew 11:10 A quotation from Mal 3:1; cf. Mark 1:2
- Matthew 11:12 Or “seize”
- Matthew 11:14 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 11:19 Many Greek manuscripts, including most later ones, read “children”
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