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Matthew 11

Messengers from John the Baptist

1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 ^aNow when John heard ^bin prison about the deeds of ^cthe Christ, he sent word by ^dhis disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you ^ethe one who is to come, or shall we ^flook for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 ^gthe blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers ^{▼

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Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13} are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and ⁱthe poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who ^jis not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out ^kinto the wilderness to see? ^lA reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man ^{▼

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Or Why then did you go out? To see a man . . .} dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? ⁿA prophet? ^{▼

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Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?} Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

^p“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 ^qFrom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence ^{▼

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Or has been coming violently} and the violent take it by force. 13 ^sFor all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is ^tElijah who is to come. 15 ^uHe who has ears to hear ^{▼

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Some manuscripts omit to hear} let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came ^wneither eating ^xnor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came ^yeating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, ^za friend of ^aatax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” ^{▼

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Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)}

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 ^acThen he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 ^ad“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in ^aeTyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 ^afBut I tell you, it will be more bearable on ^agthe day of judgment for ^ahTyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you ^aiCapernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to ^ajHades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 ^akBut I tell you that ^alit will be more tolerable on ^amthe day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

25 ^anAt that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father ^aoLord of heaven and earth, that ^apyou have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and ^aqrevealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your ^argracious will. ^{▼

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Or for so it pleased you well} 27 ^atAll things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son ^auexcept the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone ^avto whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 ^awCome to ^axme, all who labor and are ^ayheavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and ^azlearn from me, for I am ^bagentle and lowly in heart, and ^bbyou will find rest for your souls. 30 For ^bcmy yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”