< Matthew 11 >

1 After Jesus had finished giving directions to his twelve Disciples, he left that place in order to teach and preach in their towns.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples,
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 and asked – ‘Are you “the coming one,” or are we to look for someone else?’
And said to him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4 The answer of Jesus to the question was – ‘Go and report to John what you hear and see –
Jesus answered and said to them, Go and show John again those things which ye hear and see:
5 the blind recover their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear, the dead, too, are raised to life, and the good news is told to the poor.
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 Blessed is the person who finds no hindrance in me.’
And blessed is he, who shall not be offended because of me.
7 While John’s disciples were going back, Jesus began to say to the crowds with reference to John,
And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man richly dressed? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings!
But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9 What, then, did you go for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
But what went ye out to see? A prophet? yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the man of whom scripture says – “I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.”
For this is he, concerning whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Verily I say to you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: however he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the time of John the Baptist to this very hour, the kingdom of heaven has been taken by force, and people using force have been seizing it.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For the teaching of all the prophets and of the Law continued until the time of John;
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 and – if you are ready to accept it – John is himself the Elijah who was destined to come.
And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, who was to come.
15 If you have ears, listen.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 But to what will I compare the present generation? It is like little children sitting in the market-places and calling out to their playmates –
But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, and calling to their companions,
17 We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not mourned.
And saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not lamented.
18 For, when John came, neither eating nor drinking, people said “He has a demon in him”;
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.
19 and now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, they are saying “Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and outcasts!” And yet wisdom is vindicated by her actions.’
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children.
20 Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been done, because they had not repented,
Then he began to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they repented not:
21 ‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which had been done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.
But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum! Will you exalt yourself to heaven? You will be flung down to Hades! For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day. (Hadēs g86)
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Hadēs g86)
24 Yet, I tell you, the doom of Sodom will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.’
But I say to you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25 At that same time Jesus uttered the words, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, though you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the childlike!
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.
26 Yes, Father, I thank you that this has seemed good to you.
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does anyone fully know the Son, except the Father, or fully know the Father, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.
All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come to me, all you who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest!
Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke on you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls;
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls.
30 for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

< Matthew 11 >