Matthew 11; Additional Reading Isaiah 63

Tuesday, March 04, 2025
 

John’s Questions

11 When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and [b]preach in their cities.

2 Now when John, [c]while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the [d]Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the [e]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he [f]who does not [g]take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 [h]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ [i]palaces! 9 [j]But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it [k]is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger [l]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is [m]least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven [n]suffers violence, and violent men [o]take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who [p]was to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, [q]let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not [r]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, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [s]drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and [t]sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The Unrepenting Cities

20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His [u]miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the [v]miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in [w]sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the [x]miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

25 At that [y]time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28 “Come to Me, all [z]who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 [aa]easy and My burden is light.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Or commanding
  2. Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim
  3. Matthew 11:2 Lit in prison
  4. Matthew 11:3 Lit Coming One
  5. Matthew 11:5 Or good news
  6. Matthew 11:6 Lit whoever
  7. Matthew 11:6 Or stumble over Me
  8. Matthew 11:8 Or Well then,
  9. Matthew 11:8 Lit houses
  10. Matthew 11:9 Or Well then,
  11. Matthew 11:10 Lit has been written
  12. Matthew 11:10 Lit before your face
  13. Matthew 11:11 Or less
  14. Matthew 11:12 Or is forcibly entered
  15. Matthew 11:12 Or seize it for themselves
  16. Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come
  17. Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!
  18. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
  19. Matthew 11:19 Or wine-drinker
  20. Matthew 11:19 I.e. irreligious Jews
  21. Matthew 11:20 Or works of power
  22. Matthew 11:21 Or works of power
  23. Matthew 11:21 I.e. symbols of mourning
  24. Matthew 11:23 Or works of power
  25. Matthew 11:25 Or occasion
  26. Matthew 11:28 Or who work to exhaustion
  27. Matthew 11:30 Or comfortable, or pleasant
 
 

God’s Vengeance on the Nations

63 Who is this who comes from Edom,
With garments of [a]glowing colors from Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His apparel,
[b]Marching in the greatness of His strength?
“It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2 Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
3 “I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their [c]lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I [d]stained all My raiment.
4 “For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
5 “I looked, and there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
6 “I trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk in My wrath,
And I [e]poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

God’s Ancient Mercies Recalled

7 I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord,
According to all that the Lord has granted us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has granted them according to His compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.
8 For He said, “Surely, they are My people,
Sons who will not deal falsely.”
So He became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction [f]He was afflicted,
And the angel of His presence saved them;
In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them,
And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled
And grieved His Holy Spirit;
Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy,
He fought against them.
11 Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses.
Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the [g]shepherds of His flock?
Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of [h]them,
12 Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses,
Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,
13 Who led them through the depths?
Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble;
14 As the cattle which go down into the valley,
The Spirit of the Lord gave [i]them rest.
So You led Your people,
To make for Yourself a glorious name.

“You Are Our Father”

15 Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation;
Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds?
The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.
16 For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us
And Israel does not recognize us.
You, O Lord, are our Father,
Our Redeemer from of old is Your name.
17 Why, O Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways
And harden our heart from fearing You?
Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
18 Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while,
Our adversaries have trodden it down.
19 We have become like those over whom You have never ruled,
Like those who were not called by Your name.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:1 Or crimson
  2. Isaiah 63:1 Lit Inclining
  3. Isaiah 63:3 Lit juice
  4. Isaiah 63:3 Lit defiled
  5. Isaiah 63:6 Lit brought down their juice to the earth
  6. Isaiah 63:9 Another reading is He was not an adversary
  7. Isaiah 63:11 Some mss read shepherd
  8. Isaiah 63:11 Lit him
  9. Isaiah 63:14 Lit him

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