Matthew 11: John's question, and Jesus on John
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
John, in prison, sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus whether he is the one who comes. Jesus tells them to report what they hear and see, then speaks to the crowds about John, and speaks against the cities where most of his mighty works were done. He thanks the Father, says what has been handed to him, and calls those who labor and are heavily burdened to come to him.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. The narrator speaks in verses 1, 2 and 20. In verse 3 the question to Jesus comes from John, carried by his two disciples. Jesus speaks in verses 4 to 19 and 21 to 30. In verses 25 and 26 he speaks to the Father. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
In plain English: When Jesus had finished giving orders to his twelve disciples, he left that place to teach and preach in their cities.
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2Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
In plain English: John heard in the prison about the works of the Christ. He sent two of his disciples
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3and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?”
In plain English: and said to him (the Greek says "he said", so the question is John's, carried by the two): 'Are you the one who comes, or should we look for another?'
Good to know: The Greek says "he said to him", with one speaker: John. The two disciples carry his words. The question says "we": "should we look for another", and "he who comes" is ho erchomenos, word for word "the one coming". The verse does not say who John expected.
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4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
In plain English: Jesus answered them: Go and tell John what you hear and see:
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5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
In plain English: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Good to know: Several of these are in Isaiah: the blind and the deaf in , and the lame in , and good news in , where this Bible has "to preach good news to the humble". Matthew does not say "it is written" here. has Jesus's answer to John with the same six in the list.
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6Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
In plain English: Blessed (or: happy) is the one who is not made to stumble over me.
The Greek words: "Blessed" is makarios, in 13 verses of Matthew. This Bible prints "blessed" in all 13. The dictionary gives "supremely blest" and "fortunate". "Find no occasion for stumbling" is a form of skandalizo, to trip up. It is in 13 verses of Matthew, and this Bible prints "stumble" in 10 and "offend" in 2.
What changes: Read as "blessed", the verse says the one who does not stumble is supremely blest. Read as "happy" or "fortunate", it says how well off that person is. The verse does not say more.
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7As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
In plain English: As these went 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?
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8But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
In plain English: What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings' houses.
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9But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
In plain English: Why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
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10For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
In plain English: This is the one about whom it is written: 'Look, I am sending my messenger (or: angel) before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
Good to know: Matthew says this is written. The words are close to two verses: , "I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me", and , "I send an angel before you". Here the speaker says "before your face" and "your way", and the saying is about John. "Messenger" is angelos, which is also the Greek word for "angel".
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11Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
In plain English: I tell you truly, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptizer has risen. Yet the least (or: the lesser one) in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
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12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
In plain English: From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence (or: forces its way in; the Greek form can be read either way), and violent people seize it (this Bible: take it by force).
The Greek words: "Suffers violence" is biazetai, from biazo. The dictionary gives "to force", "to crowd oneself into", or "to be seized". "The violent" is biastai, "forcers", and "take by force" is harpazo, to seize.
How it is translated: The form of biazetai can be read in two ways, so the WEB's "suffers violence" is one choice. The plain line gives both.
What changes: Read as "suffers violence", the Kingdom is being forced or seized by others. Read as "forces its way in", the Kingdom itself is pressing forward, and violent people seize it. The verse does not say who the violent are.
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13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
In plain English: All the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
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14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
In plain English: If you are willing to receive it, he himself is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Good to know: says: "I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes." This verse says that, if they are willing to receive it, John is that Elijah. Elijah's own story is told in 1 and 2 Kings, and tells how he went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
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15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
In plain English: Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
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16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions
In plain English: To what shall I compare this generation (or: the people of this time)? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their friends
The Greek word: "Generation" is genea. The dictionary gives "a generation" and, "by implication, an age (the period or the persons)". In Matthew it is in 10 verses, and this Bible prints "generation" in all 10: , here, , , , , , , and .
What changes: Read as "generation", Jesus means the people living at that time. Read as "the period" or "the age", he means those days. Read as "the persons", he means the people of that time. The text does not say more.
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17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’
In plain English: and say: We played the flute for you, and you did not dance. We sang a funeral song for you (this Bible: mourned), and you did not beat your breasts (this Bible: lament).
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18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
In plain English: John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say: He has a demon.
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19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
In plain English: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say: Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! But wisdom is justified (or: shown to be right) by her children.
The Greek word: "Justified" is dikaioo. The dictionary gives "to render (show or regard as) just or innocent". It is the same word as in , where words justify or condemn. has this saying as "Wisdom is justified by all her children."
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20Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
In plain English: Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent (or: change their minds).
The Greek word: "Repented" is metanoeo. The dictionary gives "to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider". It is in 5 verses of Matthew: , , here, and . This Bible prints "repent" in all 5.
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21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
In plain English: Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Good to know: Chorazin is named in only two verses of the New Testament, here and , and Bethsaida in 7. Luke 10:13 names the same two cities and Tyre and Sidon.
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22But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
In plain English: But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
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23You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.
In plain English: And you, Capernaum, lifted up to heaven (or: the sky), you will go down to Hades. If the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today.
Good to know: The verse says Capernaum will go down to Hades. "Hades" is hades, "unseen" in the dictionary, the place or state of departed souls. It is in 2 verses of Matthew, here and , and in 11 of the New Testament. The words "heaven" and "down to Sheol" also stand together in and , about a king of Babylon. Matthew does not say he is quoting there.
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24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”
In plain English: But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom than for you.
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25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
In plain English: At that time Jesus answered and said: I thank you (or: I openly agree with you), Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants.
The Greek word: "I thank you" is exomologeo. The dictionary gives "to acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully". It is in only two verses of Matthew: here, and , where this Bible has "confessing their sins". "Infants" is nepios, a small child who does not yet speak. It is in 2 verses of Matthew: here and .
What changes: Read as "I thank you", Jesus gives thanks. Read as "I openly agree with you", he says aloud that he agrees with the Father. The prayer says what the Father did either way.
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26Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.
In plain English: Yes, Father, because this was well-pleasing in your sight.
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27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
In plain English: All things have been handed over 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 one to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Good to know: "Handed over" is paradidomi, the word in for what Judas did and in for what will be done to the twelve. Here it is what the Father did for the Son. "Fully knows" is epiginosko, which the dictionary gives as "to become fully acquainted with".
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28“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
In plain English: Come to me, all of you who work hard and carry heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
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29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
In plain English: Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle (or: mild) and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (or: lives).
The Greek word: "Gentle" is praus, which the dictionary gives as "mild, i.e. (by implication) humble". It is in 3 verses of Matthew: , here and . "Souls" is psyche, the word for soul or life, as in .
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30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In plain English: For my yoke is easy (or: kind), and my load is light.
The Greek word: "Easy" is chrestos. The dictionary gives "useful (in manner or morals)". It is in 7 verses of the New Testament. This Bible prints "easy" here, "good" in 2 verses and "kind" in 2.
What changes: Read as "easy", the yoke is not hard to carry. Read as "kind" or "good", it is a good yoke. The verse does not say more.
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