Matthew 11:1-30

Matthew’s Good News

Matthew’s *Gospel

Hilda Bright

Chapter 11

John the *Baptist asked a question 11:1-6

v1 Jesus finished giving instructions to his 12 *disciples. Then he went on from there to other towns in the Galilee district. He taught the people and he told them God’s message. v2 John was in prison at that time. But he heard what Jesus was doing. So he sent his *disciples to talk to Jesus. v3 ‘John said that someone would come. Are you the person that John was talking about?’ they asked him. ‘Or should we expect someone else to come?’ v4 Jesus replied to them. ‘Go back to John’, he said. ‘Tell him what you hear now. Tell him what you see here. v5 Blind people came, and now they can see again. People who could not walk properly can now walk easily. People who had terrible skin diseases are well again. Deaf people came, and now they can hear. Some dead people are alive again. And poor people are hearing the good news about me. v6 The person who continues to trust me will be happy.’

Verse 1 Jesus finished what he had been teaching in chapter 10.

Verses 2-3 John was in prison. Matthew refers to this in Matthew 4:12 and explains more in Matthew 14:1-12. John had showed that Jesus was the *Messiah (John 1:29-33). But now, in prison, John was not so sure. ‘The person that John was talking about’ means ‘the *Messiah’. John had spoken about judgement and a powerful *Messiah (Matthew 3:10-12). But Jesus was being kind to people and helping them. Perhaps John thought that Jesus should have freed him from prison. Jesus did not announce that he was the *Messiah. John may have wondered why he did not announce himself.

Verses 4-5 God’s servant Isaiah had promised what the *Messiah would do (Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1-3). Jesus showed by his actions and words that those promises were true. The *Messiah had come. Jesus wanted John’s *disciples to tell John about it. They were witnesses. Then John would know that he had not made a mistake about Jesus.

Verse 6 Jesus sent this message to John the *Baptist, but it is true for everyone who trusts Jesus.

Jesus praises John the *Baptist 11:7-15

v7 As John’s *disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. ‘What kind of man did you go out into the desert to see? Did you see a man like tall grass that the wind blows from one side to the other? No! v8 What kind of man did you go out to see then? Did you see a man who wore expensive clothes? No! People who wear expensive clothes live in king’s palaces. v9 Then what did you go out to see? Did you see one of God’s servants? Yes! And I tell you that he is more than that. v10 The *Scripture spoke about him long ago:

“I will send my *messenger ahead of you,

He will prepare the way before you arrive”, God says.

v11 I am telling you the truth. John the *Baptist is more important than everyone else who has ever lived in the world. But the least important person where God rules in heaven is more important than John is. v12 Since the time that John the *Baptist came until now, the place where God rules has been strongly attacked. Eager people are forcing their way into it. v13 God’s Law and all the books that God’s servants wrote long ago told God’s message. They said what would happen until John came. v14 They said that Elijah would come. And if you will believe it, John himself is Elijah. v15 Anyone who wants to understand, must listen!’

Verse 7 John had begun to doubt that Jesus was the *Messiah. When the people heard John’s question, they might have doubted too. Also, Jesus’ words in verse 6 might seem to blame John. So now, Jesus praised John and told the truth about him to the people. Nobody would have gone into the desert to see a very ordinary man. Tall grasses were very common by the river Jordan. The wind blew the grass in one direction, and then it blew the grass in a different direction. In a similar way, weak people keep changing their opinions. But John had firm opinions. He had the courage to speak the truth for God. He even told king Herod Antipas that he had done something wrong (Matthew 14:1-12).

Verse 8 John wore clothes that were rough, and he ate simple food (Matthew 3:4). He did not live in luxury in a king’s palace. He did not have an easy life.

Verses 9-10 Jesus agreed that John was God’s servant. But he was even more important than every other one of God’s servants. He was God’s special *messenger. He prepared the way for the *Messiah. See Malachi 3:1.

Verse 11 John was most important. He announced that a new age was beginning. But he did not see what that new age meant to the world. He did not see all the evidence about how much God loved the world. John did not see Jesus die (John 3:16). So the most humble Christian has a much greater advantage than John had.

Verse 12 People have explained these words in several different ways:

1. Fierce men had attacked the idea that God rules people. They started when John was in prison. They continued to attack it because they wanted to rule people’s thoughts.

2. The words may refer to the ‘Eager Men’ (see Simon the Eager Man in Matthew 10:4). The Eager Men were *Jews who tried to establish only God’s rule in their land. They did this as they fought the *Romans. People wanted to force Jesus to become their king (John 6:15).

3. People were eager to get the good things that God offers. But they wanted to take them with force. They were like people who are trying to force their way into a city.

Verses 13-14 Jesus was saying that John was like another Elijah. He spoke the words from the *Old Testament about Elijah’s return (Malachi 4:5). People believed that Elijah would announce that the *Messiah had arrived. Even today, *Jews leave an empty chair at their *Passover meal for Elijah. God’s *messenger from heaven spoke to John’s father before John was born. He promised Zechariah that John would be like God’s servant, Elijah. John would have the same kind of courage and power that Elijah had (Luke 1:17).

Verses 14-15 God can send his *messengers, but people may refuse to listen to them. So Jesus appealed to the people to listen.

People’s attitudes to John and to Jesus 11:16-19

v16 ‘I do not know what to say about the people in these days. They are like children who sit in the market place. They call out to another group of children. v17 “We played music for you, but you did not dance. We sang a funeral song, but you did not cry”, they say. v18 John came. He did not eat or drink as much as you do. So people say that he has an evil *spirit. v19 The Son of Man came. He ate and drank exactly as you do. And so people speak about him. “This man is always eating and drinking too much!” they say. “There are people who collect taxes and other people who *sin. They are his friends!” they say. But you can know what is really wise. Just look at the results. Then you will know.

Verses 16-17 Jesus said that the people round him were like children. One group of children complained that the other group would not play with them. They would not play happy games, and they would not play sad games. None of them could agree.

Verses 18-19 John the *Baptist lived a strict life, so people said that he was mad. Jesus joined in social events. He spent time with people that other people avoided. So people said that Jesus lived a wicked life. The people did not want to accept either John or Jesus. So those people behaved like selfish children. They made excuses and would not listen to God’s message. The results showed who was right. John had a strict life while he prepared for his work. He changed the attitude of many people. Jesus spent time with ordinary people. He showed them that God loved them. Both John and Jesus chose the way that was right for them. Wise people should be able to understand this.

Jesus warned some towns in Galilee 11:20-24

v20 Then Jesus began to warn the people in the towns where he had performed most of his *miracles. He was disappointed because they had not turned away from their *sins. v21 ‘How terrible it will be for you people in Chorazin!’ he said. ‘How terrible it will be for you people in Bethsaida! Suppose I had done the same *miracles in Tyre and Sidon that I did in your towns. The people there would have turned away from their *sins long ago. They would have worn rough clothes. They would have put ashes on their heads to show that they were sorry. v22 I tell you this. On judgement day, it will be easier for the people from Tyre and Sidon than it will be for you. v23 And as for you, Capernaum people! You think that you are on your way up to heaven. But no, you will go down to where the dead people go. Suppose that the Sodom people had seen the same *miracles that I have performed in your towns. Sodom would still be here today. v24 But I tell you this. On judgement day, it will be easier for the people from Sodom than it will be for you.’

Verses 21-22 The *gospels do not tell us everything that Jesus did (John 21:25). So we have no account of what Jesus did in Chorazin. Tyre and Sidon were two towns that were on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The people there were very wealthy because they had many merchant ships. But they were proud and cruel. So God’s servants had told them that God would judge them (Isaiah chapter 23; Ezekiel Chapter s 27, 28; Amos 1:9). These towns were in Galilee district. They heard what Jesus taught. But they did not change how they behaved. They had seen his *miracles, but they were not interested. They had seen what Jesus did. So they had an advantage over Tyre and Sidon. And God will judge them more severely than he will judge the people from those two non-*Jewish towns. Sometimes the *Jews deeply regretted that they had done wrong. So they wore very rough clothes called ‘sackcloth’. And they put ashes on their heads. That showed that they were very sorry.

Verses 23-24 The Capernaum people were very proud. They said that their city ‘reached up to heaven’. Isaiah had used this phrase to describe the proud king of *Babylon (Isaiah 14:13). Jesus had worked in Galilee district. He used Capernaum as the central town. So the people there had seen him do many *miracles. The Sodom people had been so wicked that God had destroyed their city long ago. But the people from Capernaum had less excuse than the people from Sodom had. In Capernaum, they had seen all that Jesus had done. So they would receive a more severe judgement from God.

Jesus shows people the Father and he offers an easy *yoke 11:25-30

v25 At that time, Jesus spoke to his Father. ‘I praise you Father’, he said. ‘You are the *Lord of heaven and earth. Thank you that you have hidden these things from wise people. And you have hidden these things from people who know a lot. But you have shown them to people who know very little. v26 Yes, Father. That was what you wanted.

v27 ‘My Father has given everything to me. The Father is the only person who knows the Son. And only the Son knows the Father, together with the people that the Son chooses to tell about him. v28 Come to me, if you are tired. And everyone who is carrying a heavy load should come to me. I will give you rest. v29 Take my *yoke and put it on your shoulders. Then you will learn what I teach you. My attitude is gentle and humble, so you will find rest. v30 The *yoke that I give you is easy. And the load that I give you is light.’

Verse 25 The people who taught God’s *Law, did not believe Jesus’ message. The people who thought that they were wise did not believe his message. Humble people knew that Jesus spoke the truth. They were like little children. Some people are proud that they know a lot about God. But they do not really understand him.

Verse 27 Jesus said that he is the Son. He is the only person who knows God, the Father. Only Jesus can show people what God is like. This statement is like the one in John’s *gospel, (John 14:9). ‘The person who has seen me has seen the Father’, it says.

Verse 28 In those days, the *Jewish religion had many laws. The leaders had made a big series of laws. People who tried to obey all of them became very tired. The laws were like a heavy load that people must carry.

Verses 29-30 A *yoke is a special piece of wood. The farmer puts one on the neck of his oxen (big cows) when they work for him. Jesus had worked with wood. So he knew how to make good *yokes. They fitted well, and they did not make the animal’s neck sore. The *Jews used the word ‘*yoke’ as picture language. They were talking about how they must obey the law. Peter spoke about the ‘*yoke’ that the *Jews had found difficult (Acts 15:10). In these verses, Jesus was referring to his own and their experience as *Jews. He invited people to follow him. They would find that their life with Jesus was ‘easy’. It is ‘easy’ because Jesus cares about his *disciples. They would find that his load is light. It is ‘light’ because a *disciple follows the example of Jesus. A *disciple does not need to obey hundreds of rules. Jesus is gentle and he is humble. He allows people to be free. Then they obey him because they love him.

gospel ~ 1. good news; 2. one of the first four books in the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
Baptist ~ someone who baptises people.
baptise ~ to put a person under water or put water on a person to show that they want to follow Christ.
disciples ~ those who follow another person to learn from him.
Messiah ~ the Jews' word for the king who would come and rescue them.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
scriptures ~ the books in the Old Testament or in the Bible.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
messenger ~ a person who gives a message.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at that time. That which belonged to Rome was Roman.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
Passover ~ the time when the Jews remember that God freed them from Egypt.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
spirit ~ the part of us that lives when our body dies; a being that is alive, even without a body; the part of a person that will always be alive, even after their body is dead. There are good spirits, like God’s Spirit and his angels. And there are bad spirits, like Satan and his angels.
being ~ a person or animal that is alive.
angels ~ God's special messengers.
Satan ~ the chief evil spirit.
messenger ~ a person who gives a message.
sin ~ when we do not obey God's commands.
miracle ~ a great thing that only God can do.
gospel ~ 1. good news; 2. one of the first four books in the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything to do with a Jew.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
Babylon ~ a country in the Old Testament. Today it is part of Iraq.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
yoke ~ 1. a bar of wood that joins two animals together; 2. something which unites people in a common task.
Lord ~ master; a name that we call God or Jesus; we call God or Jesus Lord when we obey them.
Law ~ the rules that God gave to Moses for the Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.