The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew Chapter 11 (AMP)
John’s Questions - The Unrepenting Cities
When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and to preach in their [Galilean] cities.
Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples
and asked Him, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else [who will be the promised One]?”
Jesus answered, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:
the blind receive [their] sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed [by healing] and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”
As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind [which is commonplace]?
What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh desert]? Those who wear soft clothing are in the palaces of kings!
But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one [more eminent, more remarkable, and] [b]far more than a prophet [who foretells the future].
This is the one of whom it is written [by the prophet Malachi], ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’I assure you and most solemnly say to you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater [in privilege] than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].
For all the prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.
And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is [the fulfillment of] Elijah [as the messenger] who was to come [before the kingdom].
He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market places, who call to the others,
and say ‘We piped the flute for you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed sad dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and cry aloud.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking [with others], and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds [in the lives of those who respond to Me].”
Then He began to denounce [the people in] the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent [and change their hearts and lives].
“Woe (judgment is coming) to you, [c]Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon [cities of the Gentiles], they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes [their hearts would have been changed and they would have expressed sorrow for their sin and rebellion against God].
Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for [the pagan cities of] Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, are you to be exalted to heaven [for your apathy and unresponsiveness]? You will descend to Hades (the realm of the dead); for if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”
2At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose].
Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son [deliberately] wills to reveal Him.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!
Content source: Amplified version of the Holy Bible
Frustrations of Jesus.
Jesus has spent years healing the sick and performing other miracles and the whole time preaching the Word of God.
Yet people continued to doubt his word.
They failed to understand that they must unite behind him should they ever wish break free from their oppression. They needed to free their souls, repent their sins and embrace God.
But 'no', they were simple children, brain-washed by the symphony of the Gentiles. Offended by the very existance of Jesus, a man offering a path to Heaven via spiritual and intellectual enlightenment.
This could have gone another way he said. God could have destoyed all and started over, just as he had done in the past.
But not this time. This time he had sent a son to lead mankind to prosperity, purpose and eternal life.
However mankind was failing to accept Jesus as the Messiah - an unacceptable outcome.
Yet not all hope was lost - for a new generation of believers was becoming woke. And through them the faith would grow.
Finally, for those citizens indoctrinated in overly complicated and burdensome religious cults and societies, now was the time to walk away and follow Jesus - a low maintenance spiritual guide, with the full power of God behind him.
SK.
Amazing analysis! I would like to see someday a Bible commented by the gentleman SK
In this chapter, we are shown that there are people among whom Christ was and did not believe in Him. There are many people who harden their hearts, but Christ is always willing to forgive and heal wounds, He wants us to follow Him and cast our burdens upon Him. He to give us rest.
Something that is a reality in the Christian worker is that he should never go out to do something on his own, he should always receive the instruction of the Holy Spirit to do his will. "What did they go out to see in the desert? "wind" refers to John the prophet of the Most High, was not anyone, it announced the arrival of the Messiah, tremendous task entrusted to the humblest servants. Only through Jesus Christ can we receive the revelation of the Father, and his fatherhood, because only through him we become children. Although the burden of bringing souls back to their eternal home in Christ seems an overwhelming and impossible task to achieve, it is not in our strength that is realized, it is in the power of the spirit that is made light, and although it bears a great responsibility to do his will, his grace and love allow us to live a holy life and full of blessing in His presence
Without the power of God it is impossible.
I totally agree with you.
It is pertinent for every child of God to always wait on the Lord for instructions and guidance.
Jesus is coming again . The first time he came with the offer of salvation; the second time the world will see him rule and reign on this earth as the righteous Judge. If we reject his wonderful offer of salvation now, we will have to meet him as our Judge at the time of our death or in his glorious second coming. Since now is the day of salvation, I beg you, don't put off his offer of salvation today. You may not have another day on this earth to make your decision.
It's the period of grace. There will come a time and day where such open invitation will be no more
Preservation and protection of t he scriptures should be the optimal goal of every believer. Thanks to our leader @sirknight and our Apostle @tikhub for having such a great vision.
V. 28 is an open invitation God is giving to every "busy heart and mind". We are off-load our worries, struggles , addiction ,... to Him. His arms are wide open. Having laid all at the feet of the Lord, v.29 admonishes us to enrol into the Lord's "School of Disciples". The yoke is a call to be likt Him so we can enter into the perfect rest as promised in Hebrews 4.
Thank you @reliquary for helping us read the bible on the blockchain.
...and until you take advantage of the rare invitation, you might never attain true and absolute rest.
The words of Jesus at verse 29 that is the last verse says we should be gentle ...My question to all members ,are we gentle because Jesus said He is gentle and humbel....if are not then let pray and walk in the gentleness of our lord Jesus christ ..Be humble too
Oh what a great day having the privilage to read the bible...
Burn the Bible in the chain of blocks is a great idea. This chapter is very rich in spiritual content.
Amongst all the verses, this is my favourite “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation". This verse is so comforting
It will be very bad for those who have heard God's word but refuse to repent. Do not harden your heart to God's message.
A call to freedom: Jesus is beckoning on us to come to Him and as many as would yield, to them He will give rest.
Why not heed to this invitation?