Matthew 11

Summary. Chapter 11 tells us that after the Lord Jesus instructed His disciples and supervised them for a short while, He went alone to teach and preach in various cities. The starting event of this chapter is when John the Baptist sends his disciples to the Lord Jesus to publicly ask Him if He is the One to come. The Lord Jesus used this event to preach to the crowds. His sermon here in Chapter 11 can be divided into four main points. 1) Blessed is he who is not offended by the Lord Jesus and believes that He is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born through virgin birth. 2) The Lord Jesus tells people about John. John was appointed to be born, and he was the messenger of the Lord. As a messenger, he preached repentance, baptized the Lord Jesus in water, and testified about the Lord Jesus as the Son of God. That is why John is greater than the prophets. 3) Repent and accept the Lord Jesus as God. The Lord Jesus clearly tells us that if we do not repent, we will be destroyed in hell. 4) Come to the Lord Jesus and stay under His blood. There is only one name above and under the heavens that can ask forgiveness for our souls and lead our souls, and that name is Jesus.

[1] And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding His twelve disciples, He withdrew from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Comments Matthew 11:1 Only instructing the disciples was not enough for them to be alone. The Lord traveled with them for a short period of time; however, at this time, the Lord Jesus went with them only as a moral support; He did not do the actions (See John 4:1-2). The disciples needed this experience to do the work of the Lord by themselves while being guided by the Lord Jesus. The Lord wanted to prepare them so that they could do the work after He will be taken away.
“He withdrew from there …” Afterwards, He separated Himself from the disciples and went alone to teach and preach. The disciples knew where they could find Him, and if they encountered any problems, they could find Him.

[2] And when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

[3] and said to Him, Are Thou the coming One, or are we to look for another?

Comments Matthew 11:2-3 John was just a man himself. He had a short period of difficult times. When difficult times come, doubt also comes.

[4] And 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, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news proclaimed.

[6] And blessed is the one who may not be offended in Me.

Comments Matthew 11:6 Mainly, this verse concentrates on the Lord Jesus, who He is: the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born through the virgin birth to be God and man at the same time. Blessed are those who believe these.

[7] And as these were going, 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?

Comments Matthew 11:7 “A reed shaken by the wind” refers to people who cannot get a hold of themselves to do anything. They just go with the wind and have no backbones to stand by themselves.

[8] But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold those who wear soft garments in king’s houses.

[9] But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and greater than a prophet.

[10] This is he, about whom it is written,Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face,
Who will prepare Thy way before Thee.

Comments Matthew 11:10 “Before Thy face” refers to the Lord Jesus.
“Prepare Thy way before Thee” refers to preparing the way for the baptism of the Lord Jesus. John was the man on earth chosen by the Father to baptize the Lord Jesus; that is why the messenger is much more than a prophet.

[11] Truly I say to you, Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

Comments Matthew 11:11 John has been appointed to be born. His destiny was decided before he was born (See Luke 1:13-17). He was the messenger of the Lord, and that was the purpose for him to be born.
“The least in the kingdom of the heavens” refers to heavenly beings (such as angels). Humans are born out of sinful nature, but those who are born in heaven are born with no sin. The verse gives a simple comparison between two types: the living souls on earth and the living ones in heaven.

[12] And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens suffers violence, and the violent seize it.

Comments Matthew 11:12 See also Comments Luke 16:16.
“From the days of John the Baptist” refers to the days when John the Baptist started to preach in the wilderness.
“Until now” refers to the time when the Lord Jesus started His ministry.
“The kingdom of the heavens suffers violence ...” This part of the verse relates to the spiritual world.

[13] For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

[14] And if you are willing to receive, he is Elijah, who is about to come.

[15] The one having ears, let him hear.

[16] However, to which will I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets, who call out to others,

Comments Matthew 11:16 “This generation” refers to the human race from the beginning until the end times; from the beginning until the end because all people have ears and eyes, but they have never been able to use them as the Lord created them.
“Little children” are the believers, children of God.
“Others” are those that the believers, children, think of them being believers like them.

[17] saying, We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we lamented, and you did not mourn.

Comments Matthew 11:17 The children of God rejoice in the Lord by praising and singing, and they will see the difference. Those who believe like them will glorify the Lord together with them, and those who do not believe like them will not glorify the Lord. In the context here, these verses are directed to the Jews. The Jews were all children of God, chosen by God. Yet, only a few have recognized the Lord Jesus as Messiah. Many of them mocked the Lord Jesus and John the Baptist.

[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 wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.

Comments Matthew 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking …” People who use this verse to pinpoint out that the Lord drank are people who try to bring the Lord down. They use verses in the Bible to justify their own beliefs and doings. The Lord never drank alcohol. The wine the Lord drank was grape juice, for if the Lord taught us not to drink, surely, He Himself would not drink.
“a friend of tax collectors and sinners …” The Lord has been a friend to the sinners. The purpose of being a friend to the sinners is to bring them out of their dark ways. Do not think that being with sinners means to be like them. The “wisdom” in these verses is to see the purpose the Lord had for being with the sinners. Use that wisdom that the Lord provides and justify your own actions. Use the Lord’s guidelines to be with the sinners. Jesus went to teach them, not to learn from them. Do likewise.

[20] Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracle power happened, because they did not repent.

[21] Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracle power had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, then they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

[22] However, 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, you will not be exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades: for if the miracle power had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until the day.

[24] But I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.

Comments Matthew 11:20-24 Verses 20 to 24 show that repentance towards the Lord is the main issue for us humans to do. When we repent also, it means that we accept that Jesus is the greatest, and He is God. If we do not repent, we will be destroyed in hell.

[25] At that time Jesus answering said, I thank Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou have hidden these from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children.

Comments Matthew 11:25 “These” refers to the fact that the Lord Jesus can forgive sins, and under the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, sins can be forgiven. There is only one name under and above the heavens that can ask forgiveness for us, and that name is Jesus.
“Wise and understanding” refers to those who think they know everything. They believe they know everything, but they don’t even know what will happen tomorrow.
“Little children” are the ones that accept the Lord Jesus and take communion with the Lord, drink His blood, and join to be one with the Lord.

[26] Yes, Father, for in this way it was well-pleasing before Thee.

[27] All have been delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son, except the Father; and no one knows the Father, except the Son, and the one to whom the Son may wish to reveal.

Comments Matthew 11:27 All the souls and the power belong to the Lord Jesus, but He didn’t take possession yet. He came on the earth to ask all to come to Him, saying: “Come unto Me.” (See next verse.)

[28] Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Comments Matthew 11:28 The “labor” here does not mean only the missionaries and pastors working for the Lord but also includes all those searching and wanting to work for the Lord. As a secondary meaning, the “labor” can be applied to all those who toil for the things of this world but are still searching for the Lord.
“Heavy laden” refers to those who carry the burden for the lost souls who didn’t have a chance to know the Lord and feel heavy in their hearts to go and tell others about the Lord Jesus.
“I will give you rest.” Come to the Lord Jesus and stay under His blood, and you will find peace and rest for your soul.

[29] Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest to your souls.

Comments Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you …” The “yoke” is to tell the love and knowledge about God the Father. Tell all that the Father is kind and loving, but His wrath is even greater than His love. Come and glorify the Father through the Lord Jesus.
“for I am meek and lowly in heart …” Be humble, do not boast. God is not for you alone; share the love and knowledge about God.

[30] For My yoke is gentle, and My burden is light.

Comments Matthew 11:30 “My yoke is gentle” refers to the love for all. All who ask for mercy and love in the name of the Lord, show mercy to them and bring their situation for prayer. Remember, we must pray from within our hearts and not just by our mouths.
“My burden is light” means the love and care for all the believers that you come to be in contact with. But we must come in the name of the Lord and give our concern and worry to the Lord. Our duty is to pray in detail for them and not worry for them. Worrying for them is too heavy for us; that is the Lord’s duty.

Life and Faith Applications. 1) The Lord Jesus is the Messiah, “the One who is to come,” and blessed are those who believe this. 2) Repent and stay under the blood of the Lord Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is the place that we need to search and toil for. 3) Use the Lord Jesus’ guideline to be with sinners. The Lord Jesus went to teach them and show them the way, not to learn from them. 4) Tell the love and knowledge about God the Father to others. The Lord Jesus came to love all in the same way.