Matthew 11 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Messengers from John the Baptist

(Luk 7:18–35 )

Mat 11:1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Mat 11:2

Mat 11:2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

Mat 11:3

Mat 11:3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Mat 11:4

Mat 11:4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

Mat 11:5

Mat 11:5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[fn] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Mat 11:6

Mat 11:6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Mat 11:7

Mat 11:7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

Mat 11:8

Mat 11:8What then did you go out to see? A man[fn] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

Mat 11:9

Mat 11:9What then did you go out to see? A prophet?[fn] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Mat 11:10

Mat 11:10This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

Mat 11:11

Mat 11:11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 11:12

Mat 11:12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[fn] and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13

Mat 11:13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

Mat 11:14

Mat 11:14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Mat 11:15

Mat 11:15He who has ears to hear,[fn] let him hear.

Mat 11:16

Mat 11:16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

Mat 11:17

Mat 11:17“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

Mat 11:18

Mat 11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

Mat 11:19

Mat 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”[fn]

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

(Gen 19:12–14; Luk 10:13–15 )

Mat 11:20

Mat 11:20Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

Mat 11:21

Mat 11:21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Mat 11:22

Mat 11:22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

Mat 11:23

Mat 11:23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Mat 11:24

Mat 11:24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

(Luk 10:21, 22 )

Mat 11:25

Mat 11:25At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

Mat 11:26

Mat 11:26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[fn]

Mat 11:27

Mat 11:27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Mat 11:28

Mat 11:28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29

Mat 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30

Mat 11:30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(11:5)

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

(11:8)

Or Why then did you go out? To see a man…

(11:9)

Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?

(11:12)

Or has been coming violently

(11:15)

Some manuscripts omit to hear

(11:19)

Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)

(11:26)

Or for so it pleased you well

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.