Tyndale Open Study NotesMatthew 11

Jesus expands his ministry (see Matthew 4:23–9:34) by sending his disciples to other people in Israel (10:5–6). The instructions Jesus gives his disciples (10:5–42) emphasizes missionary work and the opposition and challenges they will encounter.

This section starts with John the Baptist’s doubt. It ends by honoring his faith and his work (Matthew 11:7–19). The people's rejection of John (11:16–19) hints at their future rejection of Jesus.

This section focuses on two main reactions to Jesus: acceptance and rejection. The first part (Matthew 11:2–12:50) shows Jewish leaders rejecting Jesus, while his disciples are learning to understand and accept him.

• Herod Antipas arrested John (Matthew 4:12) because John criticized Herod's immoral relationship with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother (14:1–12).

• the works of Christ: These actions showed that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) (8:1–9:34).

The miracles of compassion that Jesus did showed that the kingdom of God had begun (see 12:28; Isaiah 29:18–19; 35:5–6; 61:1). Jesus expected John to realize he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

Who does not fall away on account of Me: Jesus intended that the works mentioned in verse 5 were meant to help John the Baptist and his disciples decide about Jesus. But Jesus knew that some unexpected parts of his ministry would cause people to reject him.

A reed swaying in the wind: This refers to an unstable person. The implied answer to this rhetorical question is "no."

John the Baptist was the greatest person ever to have lived. Yet the least of the followers of Jesus are greater than John because they live in the new covenant of salvation through Jesus (see 4:17). The new covenant refers to God's new agreement with people that came through Jesus. Salvation (being saved from sin and its consequences) comes through death and resurrection of Jesus.

• The kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence: The Greek verb can mean either that the kingdom suffers violence (negative) or that it forcefully advances (positive). In Luke 16:16, a different verb (“preached”) makes the statement clearly positive.

• the violent lay claim to it: This phrase can also have either a negative or positive sense. Negatively, it may point to those who opposed John (see Matthew 11:2; 14:1–12) and persecuted the kingdom’s messengers. Positively, it may refer to people “forcing their way in” (see Luke 16:16), urgently pressing into the kingdom through radical trust and obedience.

He is the Elijah who was to come: John fulfills the Old Testament prophecy about the prophet Elijah's return (Matthew 17:10–13; see Malachi 4:5).

John’s message was like funeral songs. He lived with strict self-denial, fasting often and not drinking wine (Matthew 11:18; see 3:4). The message of Jesus is more like wedding songs, with feasting and drinking (see 9:9–17). In both cases, the people of this time respond to God's messenger with indifference and rejection.

Here Jesus describes how both John and he himself offended the people of that generation.

John lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey (Matthew 3:1, 4). People accused him of having a demon.

Jesus, by contrast, ate and drank freely with others. People accused him of being like a rebellious son (see Deuteronomy 21:18–21).

The miracles Jesus performed showed he was the Messiah (Matthew 11:5–6). These miracles demanded people to repent (11:20). Those who rejected the Messiah faced great judgment, because Jesus had clearly shown who he is.

As Jesus traveled through the villages of Galilee (Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum) he revealed more of himself to the people. Because of this greater revelation, their refusal to listen brought a more severe judgment. Jesus compared their judgment to that of the pagan cities Tyre (Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 26:1–28:19), Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20–23), and Sodom (Genesis 18:22–19:29).

Hades: This is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew term Sheol (see study note on Psalm 6:5).

This passage is about the small group of people who accept the Messiah and follow his teachings, even though most of their generation does not.

The wise and learned: The Pharisees and teachers of religious law thought their access to God was guaranteed through their knowledge and practice of the law. The disciples of Jesus were more childlike (see Matthew 21:15–16).

Jesus showed his close relationship with the Father. Everything he said and did came from his unity with his Father (see John 10:14–15; 14:6–7; 15:23–24; 16:15; 17:25–26).

• The heavy burdens were probably caused by the legal demands of the religious teachers and Pharisees (see Matthew 23:4).

• rest: This means spiritual refreshment, either now or in the future (compare 1:21; Hebrews 4:8–11).

A yoke, which connects two animals, symbolizes the demands of being a disciple of Jesus. Unlike the "yoke" of religious leaders, the yoke of Jesus is easy and light. This is not because it demands less of a person (see 7:13–14). But it is because the Messiah's power through the Holy Spirit makes it possible (see Acts 15:10; 1 John 5:3).

Israel's spiritual leaders imposed religious demands (see Matthew 23:4; Acts 15:10). This included 613 Old Testament commands and added traditions. Jesus urged those burdened by the Pharisees' rules to come to him (see Matthew 11:28) to find the salvation for which they deeply longed. This call to salvation involves living obediently to the new teachings of Jesus. Jesus invites people to build a relationship with a humble and gentle teacher.