Matthew 11

1 After Jesus finished giving his twelve disciples these instructions, he moved on from there to teach his message in their cities.

John Sends Two Disciples—Luke 7:18–23

2 When John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ had done. So he sent his disciples

3 to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?”
4 Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you hear and see:5 Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News.

6 Whoever doesn’t lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.”

Jesus Speaks About John—Luke 7:24–35

7 As they were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind?

8 Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear fine clothes are in royal palaces.
9 “Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet.

10 John is the one about whom Scripture says,
‘I’m sending my messenger ahead of youto prepare the way in front of you.’11 “I can guarantee this truth: Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it.13 All the Prophets and Moses’ Teachings prophesied up to the time of John.14 If you are willing to accept their message, John is the Elijah who was to come.

15 Let the person who has ears listen!
16 “How can I describe the people who are living now? They are like children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to other children,17 ‘We played music for you,but you didn’t dance.We sang a funeral song,but you didn’t show any sadness.’18 “John came neither eating nor drinking, and people say, ‘There’s a demon in him!’

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He’s a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
“Yet, wisdom is proved right by its actions.”

Jesus Warns Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum

20 Then Jesus denounced the cities where he had worked most of his miracles because they had not changed the way they thought and acted.21 “How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22 I can guarantee that judgment day will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go down to hell! If the miracles that had been worked in you had been worked in Sodom, it would still be there today.

24 I can guarantee that judgment day will be better for Sodom than for you.”

Jesus Praises the Father and Invites Disciples to Come to Him

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children.

26 Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.
27 “My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.28 “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.29 Place my yoket over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves

30 because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11

John the Baptist

(Luke 7.18-35)

1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns.t
2 John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers

3 to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for someone else?”
4 Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen. 5 The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosyt are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news.t

6 God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do.”

7 As John's followers were going away, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John:
What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see? Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind? 8 What kind of man did you go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who dress like that live in the king's palace. 9 What did you really go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was. I tell you that he was more than a prophet. 10 In the Scriptures God says about him, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you to get things ready for you.”t

11 I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
12 From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of heaven by force.t 13 All the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Mosest told what was going to happen up to the time of John. 14 And if you believe them, John is Elijah, the prophet you are waiting for.t

15 If you have ears, pay attention!

16 You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other,

17 “We played the flute,
but you would not dance!
We sang a funeral song,
but you would not mourn!”
18 John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, “That man has a demon in him!”

19 But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, “That man eats and drinks too much! He is even a friend of tax collectorst and sinners.” Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.

The unbelieving towns

(Luke 10.13-15)

20 In the towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God. So Jesus was upset with them and said:
21 You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are in for trouble too! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads.tt

22 I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will.
23 People of Capernaum, do you think you will be honoured in heaven? You will go down to hell! If the miracles that took place in your town had happened in Sodom, that town would still be standing.t

24 So I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than you.t

Come to me and rest

(Luke 10.21,22)

25 At that moment Jesus said:
My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people.

26 Yes, Father, that is what pleased you.

27 My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.t
28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoket I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.t 30 This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.