Matthew: Chapter 11
After giving instructions to his disciples, as noted in the previous chapter, Jesus proceeds to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. At this point, John the Baptist, who is now in prison, sends his disciples to Jesus with an important question.
Are you the one who is to come?
The question basically means, "are you the promised Messiah?". Messiah, meaning the anointed one, is the promised deliverer prophesied in the old testament of the Bible. John wanted a confirmation from Jesus himself that he was the Christ (Messiah). Jesus responds to the question by simply asking John's disciples to report to John what they hear and see.
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Matthew 11:5
While this might not seem on the surface like an answer to others, John would have understood the meaning behind it. The preaching of the good news, is something which brings joy to the ones who hear it, and as described here, people who had various ailments were healed and were filled with joy. The prophesies spoken through various prophets mention exactly this, and John could see the fulfilment of the prophesies.
Testimony about John the Baptist
As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowd about John. John wasn't someone who was dressed in fine clothes or had a luxurious lifestyle. He is a prophet, a forerunner to Christ, about whom the scriptures speak. Jesus further honors John by stating,
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11
The message spoken by John and Jesus puts a lot of emphasis on repentance and being ready for the kingdom of heaven, about which the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. But not everyone accepted the message or the ones who brought the message.
Unbelief and stubbornness of this generation
Jesus further states that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence against it and the violent take it by force. This would refer to how there was a steady opposition to the good news and message of repentance from different groups. Its no surprise that John was currently in prison for speaking what is right and true. The message of repentance was hard to accept by many not because of how it came about, but rather because of what it entails. Thus, to get into the kingdom of heaven one has commit and struggle against the world and everything the world has to offer. Which might be harder than it sounds. But whoever succeeds will inherit it.
John, as the forerunner of Christ, preached from a solitary place, and while many went to him to hear the word, many disliked him. Jesus went around preaching to various towns and villages, dining with outcasts and the poor, healing the sick and raising the dead, yet he too was disliked by many. Moreover, many who followed Jesus, stuck for the miracles, and didn't quite understand the message. And some among the ones who understood, were not willing to give up their old ways.
Jesus likens them to children sitting in the market-places and calling out to others:
"We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn." Matthew 11:17
The people neither accepted John nor Jesus, and reasoned against repentance. Owing to this, Jesus denounced the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. Had the miracles that were performed in these cities been performed in Tyre and Sidon (cities mentioned in OT which were destroyed because of sin), they would have repented. But since these cities didn't repent despite all the wonderous things and repeated warnings, it would be even worse for these cities on the day of judgement.
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| Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 |
Rest for the weary
Throughout the chapter, Jesus warns not to backslide and calls attention to our freewill to obey.
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. Matthew 11:6
He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 11:12
Towards the end of the chapter, Jesus thanks the Father, for the revelation which the ones who truly follow Jesus obtained. It was not something which they found themselves, but rather, because of their faith, and because of the grace of the Father, the mystery of the gospel, which was hidden from the "wise and the learned" is revealed to "little children".
Jesus then goes to stress on the fact that everything committed to him is from the Father, and no one can know the Father or the Son unless it is revealed to them. Finally, the chapter wraps up with the most comforting verse in this whole chapter.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
The world adds on to our burdens and makes us weary, but in Jesus we finally have rest. Following Jesus is not hard, but it requires us to get rid of everything which holds us back on earth. This does not mean leaving everything and living in the woods, but to give up on things which are not worthy of the LORD. And when we do, wholeheartedly, we get the promised peace on earth in our hearts.
See you in the next one. Take care of yourselves and each other!
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