Matthew 11

1 After Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] had finished [completed, executed] instructing [directing, commanding] His twelve [a dozen, a complete number] disciples [learners, pupils], He went on [departed, changed location] from there [that place, thence] to teach [instruct, guide] and [also, additionally] preach [proclaim, herald] in [among, within] their cities [towns, communities]. word study 2 Meanwhile [at that time, now] John [the Baptist, a prophet] heard [received news, learned] in [within, during his time in] prison [a place of confinement, captivity] about [concerning, regarding] the works [deeds, actions, miracles] of Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah], and he sent [dispatched, commissioned] his disciples [followers, learners, pupils] word study 3 to ask Him [as the anticipated Messiah], “Are You [addressing Him directly] the One [the specific promised Savior] who was to come [arrive or appear], or should we look for [eagerly await] someone else [a different person or alternative]?” word study 4 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] replied, “Go back [to John’s location, having traveled] and report [declare, tell, or announce] to John [the Baptist, a prophet and forerunner] what you hear [with your ears, and also understand and obey] and see [perceive with your eyes, and also discern spiritually]: word study 5 The blind [physically and spiritually] receive sight [are enabled to see], the lame [crippled, unable to walk] walk [are able to walk again], the lepers [those with a serious skin disease] are cleansed [healed, purified], the deaf [unable to hear] hear [are able to hear], the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically] are raised [brought back to life], and the good news [the gospel, message of salvation] is preached [proclaimed, announced] to the poor [those who are humble, in need]. word study 6 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] is the one who does not fall away [stumble, become offended] on account of Me [in relation to my teachings, because of who I am]. ” word study 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began [to rule, to commence speaking] to speak to the crowds [a large group of people, a multitude] about John: “What did you go out [to travel, to journey] into the wilderness [a deserted, uninhabited place] to see [to look at, to behold]? A reed [a fragile plant] swaying [shaken, tossed about] in the wind [a natural force]? word study 8 Otherwise [in contrast, but], what did you go out to see [to perceive, to experience]? A man [an individual, a human being] dressed [clothed, arrayed] in fine [soft, luxurious] clothes [garments, attire]? Look [behold, see], those who wear [are clothed in, have on] fine [soft, elegant] clothing [raiment, vestments] are found [reside, dwell] in kings’ [royal, regal] palaces [houses, courts]. word study 9 What then did you go out [to perceive, to attend to] to see [with your eyes, to experience]? A prophet [one who speaks God’s message, an interpreter of God’s will]? Yes [verily, indeed], I tell you [declare to you, speak to you], and more [exceedingly, surpassingly] than a prophet [a messenger of God, one who foretells the future]. word study 10 This is the one [he, the prophet] about whom it is written [in Scripture, by the prophet Malachi]: ‘Behold [see, take notice], I will send [dispatch, commission] My messenger [angel, heavenly being] ahead of You, who will prepare [make ready, clear the way] Your way [path, road] before You [in Your presence].’ word study 11 Truly I tell you [with absolute certainty, I say to you], among those born [brought into existence, begotten] of women [humanity, female descendants] there has risen [arisen, been raised up] no one greater [more esteemed, superior] than John the Baptist [the one who baptizes, prepares the way]. Yet even the least [smallest, most humble] in the kingdom [royal dominion, reign] of heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s throne] is greater [more significant, exalted] than he [John, the baptizer]. word study 12 From the days [since the time] of John the Baptist [the one who baptizes, preparing for Jesus’ arrival] until now [at this present moment, currently], the kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion] of heaven [the sky and God’s home] has been subject to violence [suffering force, being taken by force], and the violent [forceful person, energetic and strong] lay claim to it [seize it by force, snatch it away]. word study 13 For [as a reason, explaining why] all [every single one, without exception] the Prophets [those who speak forth God’s message, interpreters of His will] and the Law [Moses’ law, a set of divine regulations] prophesied [spoke under inspiration from God, foretold] until [up to the point in time when, as far as] John [the Baptist, a key figure in God’s plan]. word study 14 And if you are willing [prepared to believe] to accept [receive, welcome] it, he is the Elijah [the prophet, a messenger of God] who was to come [expected to arrive, about to ensue]. word study 15 He who [having the ability to understand] has ears [to hear and obey], let him [anyone with the capacity to listen] hear [and understand, give ear to]. word study 16 To what [in what way, by what comparison] can I compare [to liken, make similar] this generation [people living at the same time, a group of contemporaries]? They are like [similar to, resembling] children [young ones, youths] sitting [seated, gathered] in the marketplaces [public areas, gathering places] and calling out [summoning, crying out] to others [their companions, fellow children]: word study 17 ‘We played the flute [with joyful music] for you, and you did not dance [move rhythmically]; we sang a dirge [a lament, a mournful song], and you did not mourn [express deep sorrow, lament].’ word study 18 For John [the Baptist, a prophet] came neither [nor at any time] eating [consuming food, partaking in feasts] nor [at no time] drinking [imbibing liquids, wine], and they say [declare, proclaim], ‘He has [is possessed by, under the influence of] a demon [an unclean spirit, evil being]!’ word study 19 The Son of Man [the Messiah, Jesus Christ] came eating [feasting, sharing meals] and drinking [consuming wine, participating in social gatherings], and they say, ‘Look at this glutton [a person who eats excessively, a lover of food] and drunkard [one who drinks too much wine, a winebibber], a friend [associate, companion] of tax collectors [those who gather public revenue, often seen as outcasts] and sinners [those who do wrong, the unrighteous]!’ But wisdom [higher or spiritual understanding, discernment] is vindicated [justified, shown to be right] by her actions [works, deeds, the fruit of her character].” word study 20 Then Jesus began [to rule, commenced] to denounce [to revile, speak badly of] the cities [towns with walls, communities] in which [among, within] most [the majority, a large part] of His miracles [mighty works, powerful deeds] had been performed [done, accomplished], because [since, for the reason that] they did not [utterly failed to] repent [to change their mind, turn away from sin]. word study 21 “Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow] to you, Chorazin [a town in Galilee]! Woe [a lamentation, expressing grief] to you, Bethsaida [a fishing village]! For if the miracles [mighty works, demonstrations of divine power] that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre [an ancient city] and Sidon [a major port], they would have repented [turned from their sins, changed their minds] long ago [in the past, from a bygone era] in sackcloth [a rough, hairy cloth] and ashes [a sign of repentance, remorse]. word study 22 But [however, in contrast] I tell you, it will be more [tolerable, endurable] bearable [able to be endured] for Tyre [a major port in ancient Phoenicia] and [also, in addition] Sidon [an ancient city in Palestine] on [in, during] the day [a 24-hour period, a time of reckoning] of judgment [a decision or verdict, divine judgment] than [in comparison to] for you. word study 23 And you, Capernaum [a town in Palestine], will you be lifted up [exalted, elevated] to heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place]? No, you will be brought down [cast, thrown] to Hades [the place of the dead, hell]! For if the miracles [mighty works, powerful deeds] that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom [a place in ancient Palestine], it would have remained [stood, endured] to this day [the present time, today]. word study 24 But [however, in contrast] I tell you that it will be more [tolerable, endurable] bearable for Sodom [a place in ancient Palestine] on the day [a period of time, an era] of judgment [divine verdict, decision] than for you [as an individual, personally].” word study 25 At that time [in this specific season, at the right moment] Jesus declared [answered and said, prayed], “I praise [thank, confess, and acknowledge] You, Father [Abba, the ultimate Parent], Lord [the supreme Ruler, Master] of heaven [the spiritual realm, the sky] and earth [the physical world, the land], because You have hidden [concealed, kept secret] these things from the wise [intelligent, knowledgeable] and learned [understanding, discerning], and revealed [uncovered, disclosed] them to little children [babes, infants, those who are humble and dependent]. word study 26 Yes [verily, indeed], Father [the heavenly Parent], for this [so it was, in this manner] was well-pleasing [good and acceptable, a delight] in Your [belonging to You, as Your pleasure] sight [before You, in Your presence]. word study 27 All things [everything, the universe] have been entrusted [delivered, surrendered] to Me by My Father [the supreme Parent, Creator]. No one [nobody, none] knows [has intimate knowledge of, understands] the Son [the Messiah, Christ] except the Father [the Almighty, God], and no one knows [is acquainted with, recognizes] the Father except the Son [the Redeemer, Savior] and those to whom [whomever, anyone] the Son chooses [desires, wills] to reveal [disclose, make known] Him [God’s nature, character]. word study 28 Come [draw near, approach] to Me, all [every single one] you who are weary [tired, exhausted] and burdened [heavy laden, weighed down], and I will give [bestow, provide] you rest [refreshment, rejuvenation]. word study 29 Take My yoke [a wooden beam connecting two animals, symbolizing submission] upon you and learn [discover, come to know] from Me; for I am gentle [meek, humble] and humble [lowly, without pride] in heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], and you will find [discover, meet with] rest [a state of cessation from activity, a break from work] for your souls [the breath of life, the seat of emotions and desires]. word study 30 For My [gentle, good] yoke [a wooden beam connecting two animals, symbolizing submission] is easy [light, not burdensome] and My burden [load, task] is light [not heavy, easy to carry].” word study