Matthew 11

1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns. ( )ISV — Matthew 11:1

2 Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah, ^{a11:2 Or Christ} he sent a message ^{b11:2 The Gk. lacks a message} by his disciplesISV — Matthew 11:2

3 and asked him, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”ISV — Matthew 11:3

4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and observe:ISV — Matthew 11:4

5 the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news.ISV — Matthew 11:5

6 How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”ISV — Matthew 11:6

7 As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?ISV — Matthew 11:7

8 Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings’ houses.ISV — Matthew 11:8

9 Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!ISV — Matthew 11:9

10 This is the man about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ^{c11:10 Cf. Mal 3:1}ISV — Matthew 11:10

11 I tell all of you ^{d11:11 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from ^{e11:11 Lit. of} heaven is greater than he.ISV — Matthew 11:11

12 “From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from ^{f11:12 Lit. of} heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it,ISV — Matthew 11:12

13 because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John.ISV — Matthew 11:13

14 If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ^{g11:14 Or is about to come}ISV — Matthew 11:14

15 Let the person who has ears ^{h11:15 Other mss. read ears to hear} listen!ISV — Matthew 11:15

16 “To what can I compare the people living today? They’re ^{i11:16 Lit. compare this generation? It’s} like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,ISV — Matthew 11:16

17 ‘A wedding song we played for you, the dance you all did scorn. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.’ISV — Matthew 11:17

18 Because John didn’t come eating or drinking, yet people ^{j11:18 Lit. they} say, ‘He has a demon!’ISV — Matthew 11:18

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Absolved from every act of sin, is wisdom by her kith and kin.” ^{k11:19 Lit. by all her children; other mss. read by her actions} ( )ISV — Matthew 11:19

20 Then Jesus ^{l11:20 Lit. he} began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn’t repent.ISV — Matthew 11:20

21 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.ISV — Matthew 11:21

22 Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for you!ISV — Matthew 11:22

23 “And you, Capernaum! You won’t be lifted up to heaven, will you? You’ll go down to Hell! ^{m11:23 Lit. Hades; i.e. the realm of the dead} Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.ISV — Matthew 11:23

24 Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for you!” ( )ISV — Matthew 11:24

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants.ISV — Matthew 11:25

26 Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you.ISV — Matthew 11:26

27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.ISV — Matthew 11:27

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.ISV — Matthew 11:28

29 Place my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble, ^{n11:29 Lit. humble in heart} and you will find rest for your souls, ^{o11:29 Cf. Jer 6:16}ISV — Matthew 11:29

30 because my yoke is pleasant, ^{p11:30 Or kind} and my burden is light.”ISV — Matthew 11:30