Matthew 11
“After JESUS had finished
instructing HIS twelve disciples, HE went on from there to teach and
preach in the towns of Galilee.
2 When John, who was in
prison, heard about the deeds of THE MESSIAH, he sent his disciples
3 to ask HIM, “Are you THE ONE WHO is to
come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 JESUS
replied, “Go
back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have
leprosy
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and THE GOOD NEWS is proclaimed
to the poor.
6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of ME.’
7 As John’s disciples were
leaving, JESUS
began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed
swayed by the wind?
8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in
fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.
9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I
tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written:
‘‘I will send MY messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare YOUR way before YOU.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen
anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the
kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been
raiding it.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah
who was to come.
15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 To what can I compare this generation? They are like
children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 ‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not 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, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a FRIEND OF TAX COLLECTORS AND
SINNERS.’ But WISDOM is proved right by her deeds.”
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then JESUS began to denounce the towns in
which most of HIS miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For
if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and
Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and
Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the
heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed
in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom
on the day of judgment than for you.’
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time JESUS said, ‘I praise you, FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,
because YOU have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed
them to little children.
26 Yes, FATHER, for this is what YOU were pleased
to do.
27 ‘All things have been committed to ME by MY
FATHER. No
one knows THE SON
except THE FATHER, and no one knows THE FATHER except THE SON and those to
whom THE SON
chooses to reveal HIM.
28 ‘Come to ME, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
29 Take MY yoke upon you and learn from ME, for I am GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART,
and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”
