1 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 when G3753 Jesus G2424 had made an end G5055 of commanding G1299 his G846 twelve G1427 disciples, G3101 he departed G3327 thence G1564 to teach G1321 and G2532 to preach G2784 in G1722 their G846 cities. G4172
2 Now G1161 when John G2491 had heard G191 in G1722 the prison G1201 the works G2041 of Christ, G5547 he sent G3992 two G1417 of his G846 disciples, G3101
3 And said G2036 unto him, G846 Art G1488 thou G4771 he that should come, G2064 or G2228 do we look G4328 for another? G2087
4 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 Go G4198 and shew G518 John G2491 again G518 those things which G3739 ye do hear G191 and G2532 see: G991
5 The blind G5185 receive their sight, G308 and G2532 the lame G5560 walk, G4043 the lepers G3015 are cleansed, G2511 and G2532 the deaf G2974 hear, G191 the dead G3498 are raised up, G1453 and G2532 the poor G4434 have the gospel preached to them. G2097
6 And G2532 blessed G3107 is G2076 he, whosoever G3739 shall G4624 not G3362 be offended G4624 in G1722 me. G1698
7 And G1161 as G5130 they departed, G4198 Jesus G2424 began G756 to say G3004 unto the multitudes G3793 concerning G4012 John, G2491 What G5101 went ye G1831 out into G1519 the wilderness G2048 to see? G2300 A reed G2563 shaken G4531 with G5259 the wind? G417
8 But G235 what G5101 went ye out G1831 for to see? G1492 A man G444 clothed G294 in G1722 soft G3120 raiment? G2440 behold, G2400 they that wear G5409 soft G3120 clothing are G1526 in G1722 kings' G935 houses. G3624
9 But G235 what G5101 went ye out G1831 for to see? G1492 A prophet? G4396 yea, G3483 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 and G2532 more G4055 than a prophet. G4396
10 For G1063 this G3778 is G2076 he, of G4012 whom G3739 it is written, G1125 Behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 my G3450 messenger G32 before G4253 thy G4675 face, G4383 which G3739 shall prepare G2680 thy G4675 way G3598 before G1715 thee. G4675
11 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Among G1722 them that are born G1084 of women G1135 there hath G1453 not G3756 risen G1453 a greater than G3187 John G2491 the Baptist: G910 notwithstanding G1161 he that is least G3398 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of heaven G3772 is G2076 greater than G3187 he. G846
12 And G1161 from G575 the days G2250 of John G2491 the Baptist G910 until G2193 now G737 the kingdom G932 of heaven G3772 suffereth violence, G971 and G2532 the violent G973 take G726 it G846 by force. G726
13 For G1063 all G3956 the prophets G4396 and G2532 the law G3551 prophesied G4395 until G2193 John. G2491
14 And G2532 if G1487 ye will G2309 receive G1209 it, this G846 is G2076 Elias, G2243 which G3588 was for G3195 to come. G2064
15 He that hath G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191
16 But G1161 whereunto G5101 shall I liken G3666 this G5026 generation? G1074 It is G2076 like G3664 unto children G3808 sitting G2521 in G1722 the markets, G58 and G2532 calling G4377 unto their G846 fellows, G2083
17 And G2532 saying, G3004 We have piped G832 unto you, G5213 and G2532 ye have G3738 not G3756 danced; G3738 we have mourned G2354 unto you, G5213 and G2532 ye have G2875 not G3756 lamented. G2875
18 For G1063 John G2491 came G2064 neither G3383 eating G2068 nor G3383 drinking, G4095 and G2532 they say, G3004 He hath G2192 a devil. G1140
19 The Son G5207 of man G444 came G2064 eating G2068 and G2532 drinking, G4095 and G2532 they say, G3004 Behold G2400 a man G444 gluttonous, G5314 and G2532 a winebibber, G3630 a friend G5384 of publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners. G268 But G2532 wisdom G4678 is justified G1344 of G575 her G846 children. G5043
20 Then G5119 began he G756 to upbraid G3679 the cities G4172 wherein G1722 G3739 most G4118 of his G846 mighty works G1411 were done, G1096 because G3754 they repented G3340 not: G3756
21 Woe G3759 unto thee, G4671 Chorazin! G5523 woe G3759 unto thee, G4671 Bethsaida! G966 for G3754 if G1487 the mighty works, G1411 which G3588 were done G1096 in G1722 you, G5213 had been done G1096 in G1722 Tyre G5184 and G2532 Sidon, G4605 they would have repented G3340 long ago G302 G3819 in G1722 sackcloth G4526 and G2532 ashes. G4700
22 But G4133 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 It shall be G2071 more tolerable G414 for Tyre G5184 and G2532 Sidon G4605 at G1722 the day G2250 of judgment, G2920 than G2228 for you. G5213
23 And G2532 thou, G4771 Capernaum, G2584 which G3588 art exalted G5312 unto G2193 heaven, G3772 shalt be brought down G2601 to G2193 hell: G86 for G3754 if G1487 the mighty works, G1411 which G3588 have been done G1096 in G1722 thee, G4671 had been done G1096 in G1722 Sodom, G4670 it would have remained G302 G3306 until G3360 this day. G4594
24 But G4133 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 it shall be G2071 more tolerable G414 for the land G1093 of Sodom G4670 in G1722 the day G2250 of judgment, G2920 than G2228 for thee. G4671
25 At G1722 that G1565 time G2540 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said, G2036 I thank G1843 thee, G4671 O Father, G3962 Lord G2962 of heaven G3772 and G2532 earth, G1093 because G3754 thou hast hid G613 these things G5023 from G575 the wise G4680 and G2532 prudent, G4908 and G2532 hast revealed G601 them G846 unto babes. G3516
26 Even so, G3483 Father: G3962 for G3754 so G3779 it seemed G1096 good G2107 in thy G4675 sight. G1715
27 All things G3956 are delivered G3860 unto me G3427 of G5259 my G3450 Father: G3962 and G2532 no man G3762 knoweth G1921 the Son, G5207 but G1508 the Father; G3962 neither G3761 knoweth G1921 any man G5100 the Father, G3962 save G1508 the Son, G5207 and he G2532 to G3739 whomsoever G1437 the Son G5207 will G1014 reveal G601 him.
28 Come G1205 unto G4314 me, G3165 all G3956 ye that labour G2872 and G2532 are heavy laden, G5412 and I G2504 will give G373 you G5209 rest. G373
29 Take G142 my G3450 yoke G2218 upon G1909 you, G5209 and G2532 learn G3129 of G575 me; G1700 for G3754 I am G1510 meek G4235 and G2532 lowly G5011 in heart: G2588 and G2532 ye shall find G2147 rest G372 unto your G5216 souls. G5590
30 For G1063 my G3450 yoke G2218 is easy, G5543 and G2532 my G3450 burden G5413 is G2076 light. G1645
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 11
Commentary on Matthew 11 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 11
In this chapter we have,
No where have we more of the terror of gospel woes for warning to us, or of the sweetness of gospel grace for encouragement to us, than in this chapter, which sets before us life and death, the blessing and the curse.
Mat 11:1-6
The first verse of this chapter some join to the foregoing chapter, and make it (not unfitly) the close of that.
What he preached we are not told, but it was probably to the same purpose with his sermon on the mount. But here is next recorded a message which John Baptist sent to Christ, and his return to it, v. 2-6. We heard before that Jesus heard of John's sufferings, ch. 4:12. Now we are told that John, in prison, hears of Christ's doings. He heard in the prison the works of Christ; and no doubt he was glad to hear of them, for he was a true friend of the Bridegroom, Jn. 3:29. Note, When one useful instrument is laid aside, God knows how to raise up many others in the stead of it. The work went on, though John was in prison, and it added no affliction, but a great deal of consolation, to his bonds. Nothing more comfortable to God's people in distress, than to hear of the works of Christ; especially to experience them in their own souls. This turns a prison into a palace. Some way or other Christ will convey the notices of his love to those that are in trouble for conscience sake. John could not see the works of Christ, but he heard of them with pleasure. And blessed are they who have not seen, but only heard, and yet have believed.
Now John Baptist, hearing of Christ's works, sent two of his disciples to him; and what passed between them and him we have here an account of. Here is,
Mat 11:7-15
We have here the high encomium which our Lord Jesus gave of John the Baptist; not only to revive his honour, but to revive his work. Some of Christ's disciples might perhaps take occasion from the question John sent, to reflect upon him, as weak and wavering, and inconsistent with himself, to prevent which Christ gives him this character. Note, It is our duty to consult the reputation of our brethren, and not only to remove, but to obviate and prevent, jealousies and ill thoughts of them; and we must take all occasions, especially such as discover any thing of infirmity, to speak well of those who are praiseworthy, and to give them that fruit of their hands. John the Baptist, when he was upon the stage, and Christ in privacy and retirement, bore testimony to Christ; and now that Christ appeared publicly, and John was under a cloud, he bore testimony to John. Note, They who have a confirmed interest themselves, should improve it for the helping of the credit and reputation of others, whose character claims it, but whose temper or present circumstances put them out of the way of it. This is giving honour to whom honour is due. John had abased himself to honour Christ (Jn. 3:29, 30, ch. 3:11), had made himself nothing, that Christ might be All, and now Christ dignifies him with this character. Note, They who humble themselves shall be exalted, and those that honour Christ he will honour; those that confess him before men, he will confess, and sometimes before men too, even in this world. John had now finished his testimony, and now Christ commends him. Note, Christ reserves honour for his servants when they have done their work, Jn. 12:26.
Now concerning this commendation of John, observe,
Yet this high encomium of John has a surprising limitation, notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:16-24
Christ was going on in the praise of John the Baptist and his ministry, but here stops on a sudden, and turns that to the reproach of those who enjoyed both that, and the ministry of Christ and his apostles too, in vain. As to that generation, we may observe to whom he compares them (v. 16-19), and as to the particular places he instances in, we may observe with whom he compares them, v. 20-24.
This our Lord Jesus here sets forth in a parable, yet speaks as if he were at a loss to find out a similitude proper to represent this, Whereunto shall I liken this generation? Note, There is not a greater absurdity than that which they are guilty of who have good preaching among them, and are never the better for it. It is hard to say what they are like. The similitude is taken from some common custom among the Jewish children at their play, who, as is usual with children, imitated the fashions of grown people at their marriages and funerals, rejoicing and lamenting; but being all a jest, it made no impression; no more did the ministry either of John the Baptist or of Christ upon that generation. He especially reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves; therefore to humble them he compares them to children, and their behaviour to children's play.
The parable will be best explained by opening it and the illustration of it together in these five observations.
In the explanation of the parable is set forth the different temper of John's ministry and of Christ's, who were the two great lights of that generation.
Well, this is the account Christ gives of that generation, and that generation is not passed away, but remains in a succession of the like; for as it was then, it has been since and is still; some believe the things which are spoken, and some believe not, Acts 28:24.
Now Chorazin and Bethsaida are here compared with Tyre and Sidon, two maritime cities we read much of in the Old Testament, that had been brought to ruin, but began to flourish again; these cities bordered upon Galilee, but were in a very ill name among the Jews for idolatry and other wickedness. Christ sometimes went into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon (ch. 15:21), but never thither; the Jews would have taken it very heinously if he had; therefore Christ, to convince and humble them, here shows,
We have here Capernaum's doom,
Mat 11:25-30
In these verses we have Christ looking up to heaven, with thanksgiving to his Father for the sovereignty and security of the covenant of redemption; and looking around him upon this earth, with an offer to all the children of men, to whom these presents shall come, of the privileges and benefits of the covenant of grace.
Now in this thanksgiving of Christ, we may observe,
Two things he here lays before us, v. 27.
Now this is the hardest part of our lesson, and therefore it is qualified (v. 30). My yoke is easy and my burden is light; you need not be afraid of it.
Two reasons are given why we must learn of Christ.
Well, this is the sum and substance of the gospel call and offer: we are here told, in a few words, what the Lord Jesus requires of us, and it agrees with what God said of him once and again. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.