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 e Now when John heard f in prison about the deeds of g the Christ, he sent word by h his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you i the one who is to come, or shall we j look for another?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 k the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers 1 are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and l the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who m is not offended by me."

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out n into the wilderness to see? o A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man 2 dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? p A prophet? 3 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

10 This is he of whom it is written,
q "'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 r From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, 4 and the violent take it by force. 13 r For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is s Elijah who is to come. 15 t He who has ears to hear, 5 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 u neither eating v nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came w eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, x a friend of y tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." 6

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 z Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 a "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in b Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 c But I tell you, it will be more bearable on d the day of judgment for b Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, e Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to f Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 c But I tell you that g it will be more tolerable on d the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

25 h At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, i Lord of heaven and earth, that j you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and k revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your l gracious will. 7 27 m All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son n except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone o to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 p Come to q me, all who labor and are r heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and s learn from me, for I am t gentle and lowly in heart, and u you will find rest for your souls. 30 For v my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 11:2 - 19
    Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
    Luke 7:18 - 35
    The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 14:3
    For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
    Matthew 4:12
    Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 1:17
    So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 9:14
    Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 11:2 - 19
    Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
    Luke 7:18 - 35
    The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John.
  6. Cross References
    John 4:25
    The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.
    John 6:14
    When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!
    John 11:27
    She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.
  7. Cross References
    Luke 3:15
    As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ.
  8. Cross References
    Luke 7:22
    And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
  9. Cross References
    Luke 4:18
    The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
    Matthew 5:3
    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    James 2:5
    Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
  10. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:14 - 15
    And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
    John 6:61
    But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?
  11. Cross References
    Matthew 3:1
    In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
    Luke 1:80
    And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
  12. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:14
    So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
    James 1:6
    But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 14:5
    And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
    Matthew 21:26
    But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.
    Luke 1:76
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.
  14. Cross References
    Mark 1:2
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
  15. Cross References
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
  16. Cross References
    Luke 16:16
    The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
  17. Cross References
    Matthew 11:12
    From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
  18. Cross References
    Matthew 17:10 - 13
    And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?
    Malachi 4:5
    Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
    Mark 9:11 - 13
    And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?
    Luke 1:17
    And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
    John 1:21
    And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 13:9
    He who has ears, let him hear.
    Matthew 13:43
    Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
    Luke 8:8
    And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
    Luke 14:35
    It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
  20. Cross References
    Matthew 3:4
    Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
    Mark 1:6
    Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
  21. Cross References
    Luke 1:15
    For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 9:10
    And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
    Luke 7:36
    One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.
    Luke 14:1
    One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
    John 2:1
    On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
    John 12:2
    So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 9:11
    And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?
    Luke 15:2
    And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them.
    Luke 19:7
    And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.
  24. Cross References
    Matthew 18:17
    If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
  25. Cross References
    Psalms 81:11 - 13
    But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
    Isaiah 1:2 - 5
    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: "Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.
  26. Cross References
    Matthew 11:21 - 24
    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
    Luke 10:12 - 15
    I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
  27. Cross References
    Matthew 15:21
    And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
    Mark 3:8
    And Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.
    Isaiah 23:1
    The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.
    Ezekiel 28:2 - 24
    Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God : "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god -
    Amos 1:9 - 10
    Thus says the Lord : "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
  28. Cross References
    Matthew 11:21 - 24
    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
    Luke 10:13 - 15
    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
  29. Cross References
    Luke 12:47 - 48
    And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
  30. Cross References
    Acts 17:31
    Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
  31. Cross References
    Matthew 11:21
    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
  32. Cross References
    Isaiah 14:13 - 15
    You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north.
  33. Cross References
    Matthew 16:18
    And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
    Luke 16:23
    And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
    Acts 2:27
    For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
  34. Cross References
    Matthew 11:22
    But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
  35. Cross References
    Matthew 10:15
    Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 11:22
    But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
  37. Cross References
    Matthew 11:25 - 27
    At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
    Luke 10:21 - 22
    In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
  38. Cross References
    Acts 17:24
    The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.
  39. Cross References
    Job 37:24
    Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.
    1 Corinthians 1:19 - 27
    For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.
    2 Corinthians 3:14
    But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
  40. Cross References
    Matthew 21:16
    And they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?
    Psalms 8:2
    Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
    Matthew 13:11
    And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
    Matthew 16:17
    And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
  41. Cross References
    Matthew 11:25 - 27
    At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
    Luke 10:21 - 22
    In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
  42. Cross References
    Luke 12:32
    Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
    Galatians 1:15
    But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace.
  43. Cross References
    Matthew 28:18
    And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
  44. Cross References
    John 1:18
    No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is ...
    John 6:46
    Not that anyone has seen the Father except he w...
    John 7:29
    I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.
    John 8:19
    They said to him therefore, "Where is your Fath...
    John 10:15
    Just as the Father knows me and I know the Fath...
    John 17:25
    O righteous Father, even though the world does ...
  45. Cross References
    John 17:26
    I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
  46. Cross References
    John 7:37
    On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
    John 6:37
    All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
  47. Cross References
    Matthew 11:3
    And said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?
  48. Cross References
    Matthew 23:4
    They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
    Luke 11:46
    And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
  49. Cross References
    John 13:15
    For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
    Ephesians 4:20
    But that is not the way you learned Christ! -
    Philippians 2:5
    Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
    1 Peter 2:21
    For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
    1 John 2:6
    Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
  50. Cross References
    Zechariah 9:9
    Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
    2 Corinthians 10:1
    I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ - I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! -
    Philippians 2:7 - 8
    But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
    Matthew 5:5
    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
  51. Cross References
    Jeremiah 6:16
    Thus says the Lord : "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.
  52. Cross References
    1 John 5:3
    For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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