Matthew 11

John’s Questions

11When Jesus had finished 2giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there 3to teach and 4preach in their cities.

25Now when 6John, 7while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to Him, “Are You 8the 9Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 510the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the 11poor have the 12gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he 13who 14does not 15take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

7As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into 16the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 817But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ 18palaces! 919But what did you go out to see? 20A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it 21is written, ‘22Behold, I send My messenger 23ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is 24least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 1225From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven 26suffers violence, and violent men 27take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is 28Elijah who 29was to come. 1530He who has ears to hear, 31let him hear.

16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not 32mourn.’ 18For John came neither 33eating nor 34drinking, and they say, ‘35He has a demon!’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a 36drunkard, 37a friend of tax collectors and 38sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The Unrepenting Cities

20Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His 3940miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21“41Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, 42Bethsaida! For if the 43miracles had occurred in 44Tyre and 45Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in 4647sackcloth and ashes. 22Nevertheless I say to you, 48it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in 49the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, 50Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will 51descend to 52Hades; for if the 53miracles had occurred in 54Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24Nevertheless I say to you that 55it will be more tolerable for the land of 56Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

2557At that 58time Jesus said, “I praise You, 59Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that 60You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26Yes, 61Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 2762All 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 63except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28“64Come to Me, all 65who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and 66learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and 67you will find rest for your souls. 30For 68My yoke is 69easy and My burden is light.”