Mat 11 | LSB | STEP | Now it happened that when Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

‏ Matthew 11

Questions from John the Baptist

1 ^{▼▼ Lit And}Now it happened that when Jesus had finished ^{▼▼Or commanding}giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and ^{▼▼Or proclaim}preach in their cities.

2 Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the ^{▼▼Or good news}gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he ^{▼▼Lit whoever}who does not ^{▼▼Or stumble over Me}take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John the Baptist

7 Now as these men were going away, 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? 8 ^{▼▼Or Well then,}But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ ^{▼▼Lit houses}palaces! 9 ^{▼▼Or Well then,}But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it ^{▼▼Lit has been written}is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger ^{▼▼ Lit before your face} ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is ^{▼▼ Or less} least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven ^{▼▼Or is forcibly entered}suffers violence, and violent men ^{▼▼Or seize it for themselves}take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who ^{▼▼Or is going to come}was to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, ^{▼▼Or hear!, listen!; Gr imperative}let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not ^{▼▼Lit beat the breast}mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ^{▼▼Or wine-drinker}drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ^{▼▼Irreligious Jews}sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated ^{▼▼Or from}by her deeds.”

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His ^{▼▼Or works of power}miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the ^{▼▼Or works of power}miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in ^{▼▼Symbols of mourning}sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will descend to Hades; for if the ^{▼▼Or works of power}miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

25 At that ^{▼▼Or occasion}time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All 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 except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28 “Come to Me, all ^{▼▼ Or who work to exhaustion} who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am ^{▼▼Lit lowly}gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is ^{▼▼Or comfortable, pleasant}easy and My burden is light.”