Matthew 11 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

Jesus Explains His Ministry

(Luke 7:18–35 )

Mat 11:1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

Mat 11:2

Mat 11:2And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of[fn] his disciples

Mat 11:3

Mat 11:3and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

Mat 11:4

Mat 11:4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

Mat 11:5

Mat 11:5“The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Mat 11:6

Mat 11:6“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Mat 11:7

Mat 11:7As they departed, 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?

Mat 11:8

Mat 11:8“But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

Mat 11:9

Mat 11:9“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

Mat 11:10

Mat 11:10“For this is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’[fn]

Mat 11:11

Mat 11:11“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 11:12

Mat 11:12“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13

Mat 11:13“For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14

Mat 11:14“And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Mat 11:15

Mat 11:15“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Mat 11:16

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

Mat 11:17

Mat 11:17“and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’

Mat 11:18

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

Mat 11:19

Mat 11:19“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”[fn]

Woe to the Impenitent Cities

(Gen. 19:12–14; Luke 10:13–15 )

Mat 11:20

Mat 11:20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which 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 which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Mat 11:22

Mat 11:22“But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

Mat 11:23

Mat 11:23“And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be[fn] brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Mat 11:24

Mat 11:24“But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Jesus Gives True Rest

(Luke 10:21, 22 )

Mat 11:25

Mat 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

Mat 11:26

Mat 11:26“Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

Mat 11:27

Mat 11:27“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Mat 11:28

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

Mat 11:29

Mat 11:29“Take 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 11:30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

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

NKJV Footnotes

(11:2)

NU-Text reads by for two of.

(11:10)

Malachi 3:1

(11:19)

NU-Text reads works.

(11:23)

NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be.

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