Lectionary Calendar

Saturday, November 23rd, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33

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Bible Commentaries
Matthew 11

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Introduction

Introduction : Read:
1. Context: Matthew 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

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Introduction

Introduction : Read:
1. Context: Matthew 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 2-15

John the Baptist
1. Study the Signs
  Matthew 11:2-6 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, 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. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
  1. John was in prison because he had publically criticized Herod for stealing and marrying his brother’s wife (Herod Antipas and Herodias (Luke 3:19–20)).
  2. Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
  3. John 14:8-11 Philip said, "Lord, if you will just show us the Father, it will suffice us". Jesus said, Have I been so long a time with you, and haven't you seen me, Philip? "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; why do you say then, Show us the Father? Don't you believe not the Father is in me? And the works that I do, I don't really do of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father or else believe me for the very works' sake".
  4. Hearing of the signs required knowledge of scripture to identify that HE who would do them would be the Messiah!
  5. Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
  6. Isaiah 29:18-19 (also)
2. The Greatest Prophet
  Matthew 11:7-15 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  1. Matthew 3:1-4 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
  2. Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
  3. Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
  4. John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets because he was called to proclaim and make the way for the Messiah!

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Verses 2-15

John the Baptist
1. Study the Signs
  Matthew 11:2-6 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, 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. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
  1. John was in prison because he had publically criticized Herod for stealing and marrying his brother’s wife (Herod Antipas and Herodias (Luke 3:19–20)).
  2. Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
  3. John 14:8-11 Philip said, "Lord, if you will just show us the Father, it will suffice us". Jesus said, Have I been so long a time with you, and haven't you seen me, Philip? "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; why do you say then, Show us the Father? Don't you believe not the Father is in me? And the works that I do, I don't really do of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father or else believe me for the very works' sake".
  4. Hearing of the signs required knowledge of scripture to identify that HE who would do them would be the Messiah!
  5. Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
  6. Isaiah 29:18-19 (also)
2. The Greatest Prophet
  Matthew 11:7-15 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  1. Matthew 3:1-4 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
  2. Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
  3. Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
  4. John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets because he was called to proclaim and make the way for the Messiah!

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Verses 16-24

This Generation
1. Heart Issues
  Matthew 11:16-19 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
  1. In the “boxiness” of their minds, Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because He wasn’t coming as a conquering King – rather He came as a humble servant.
  2. Pride is critical of anything that challenges or calls for change! The Pharisees were happy “just the way they were” and didn’t like anything that took away their power, prestige, money or comfort.
2. No Repentance
  Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, 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. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
  1. Luke 12:42-48 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
  2. To much is given, much is required!

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Verses 16-24

This Generation
1. Heart Issues
  Matthew 11:16-19 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
  1. In the “boxiness” of their minds, Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because He wasn’t coming as a conquering King – rather He came as a humble servant.
  2. Pride is critical of anything that challenges or calls for change! The Pharisees were happy “just the way they were” and didn’t like anything that took away their power, prestige, money or comfort.
2. No Repentance
  Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, 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. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
  1. Luke 12:42-48 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
  2. To much is given, much is required!

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Verses 25-30

Child-Like Faith
1. Unto Babes
  Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
  1. God reveals Himself, not to the proud or self-seeking, but to the humble who come with simple faith!
2. All Can Come
  Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
  1. “Come”, not “DO”…
  2. Jesus doesn’t come to them and bring a whole new set of “don’t’s”, rather He say simple “Come” to Him
  3. Who can come? Anyone! All who are tired of trying to live this life in their own ways and after their own wisdom, anyone who is hurting or weighed down by life.
  4. Jesus’ promise is that He will give us “rest”…
  5. Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
  6. God is “big” on resting – because it comes from “TRUSTING” Him!
3. Learn of Me
  Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
  1. Take Jesus’ Yoke
    1. Yoke: Jesus is implying to 2-place yoke…made for two animals. In training oxen they would put a younger & smaller oxen in the yoke with a larger & stronger ox…and the stronger would teach the younger how to pull yet carrying the greater of the weight.
    2. As we become “yoked” with Jesus, we find that He carries all of the burden and we simply follow along “doing what we can”.
      1. …His yoke is easy and His burden is light
    3. Remember what we learned last week: “He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”.
    4. Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
  2. Learn of Me
    1. “Learn of me”: This is the biggest call we have…
    2. Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
      1. Psalms 40:6-8 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
    3. John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
    4. Who is Jesus? Yes, the Son of God who died and rose again, but what else is there?
      1. Example: 1 John 2:1-3 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
      2. Here we learn that Jesus is our advocate, He is righteous, He is the propitiation for our sins.
      3. How do we know if we’re learning of Him…if we keep His commandments:: “LOVE”
  3. Meek & Lowly of Heart
    1. Meekness is placing our will under the control of another’s direction – “strength under control”
      1. Luke 9:23-25 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
      2. Walking in meekness means that we die to ourselves, our flesh and selfishness and we choose daily to follow Jesus.
    2. “Lowliness of heart” means that we know who we are outside of Christ and inside of Christ and that we seek to follow Christ’s example:
      1. Philippians 2:3-8 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Conclusion
1. “The heart of the issue is always an issue of the Heart”…
2. As we come to Jesus, it must be with repentance and child-like faith and the willingness to follow God “His way” and not ours…
3. Learn of Jesus!

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 25-30

Child-Like Faith
1. Unto Babes
  Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
  1. God reveals Himself, not to the proud or self-seeking, but to the humble who come with simple faith!
2. All Can Come
  Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
  1. “Come”, not “DO”…
  2. Jesus doesn’t come to them and bring a whole new set of “don’t’s”, rather He say simple “Come” to Him
  3. Who can come? Anyone! All who are tired of trying to live this life in their own ways and after their own wisdom, anyone who is hurting or weighed down by life.
  4. Jesus’ promise is that He will give us “rest”…
  5. Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
  6. God is “big” on resting – because it comes from “TRUSTING” Him!
3. Learn of Me
  Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
  1. Take Jesus’ Yoke
    1. Yoke: Jesus is implying to 2-place yoke…made for two animals. In training oxen they would put a younger & smaller oxen in the yoke with a larger & stronger ox…and the stronger would teach the younger how to pull yet carrying the greater of the weight.
    2. As we become “yoked” with Jesus, we find that He carries all of the burden and we simply follow along “doing what we can”.
      1. …His yoke is easy and His burden is light
    3. Remember what we learned last week: “He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”.
    4. Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
  2. Learn of Me
    1. “Learn of me”: This is the biggest call we have…
    2. Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
      1. Psalms 40:6-8 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
    3. John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
    4. Who is Jesus? Yes, the Son of God who died and rose again, but what else is there?
      1. Example: 1 John 2:1-3 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
      2. Here we learn that Jesus is our advocate, He is righteous, He is the propitiation for our sins.
      3. How do we know if we’re learning of Him…if we keep His commandments:: “LOVE”
  3. Meek & Lowly of Heart
    1. Meekness is placing our will under the control of another’s direction – “strength under control”
      1. Luke 9:23-25 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
      2. Walking in meekness means that we die to ourselves, our flesh and selfishness and we choose daily to follow Jesus.
    2. “Lowliness of heart” means that we know who we are outside of Christ and inside of Christ and that we seek to follow Christ’s example:
      1. Philippians 2:3-8 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Conclusion
1. “The heart of the issue is always an issue of the Heart”…
2. As we come to Jesus, it must be with repentance and child-like faith and the willingness to follow God “His way” and not ours…
3. Learn of Jesus!

return to 'Top of Page'

MatthewMat 10 MatthewMat MatthewMat 12

Copyright Statement
Brown's Commentary on the New Testament is reproduced by permission of author. All other rights reserved.

Bibliographical Information
Brown, Jim. "Commentary on Matthew 11". "Brown's Commentary on the New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnc/matthew-11.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesMatthew 11

Brown's Commentary on the New TestamentBrown's Commentary

Bible Commentaries
Matthew 11