MESSENGERS FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST

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.
2 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.
7 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.
16 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.

JESUS CONDEMNS CERTAIN CITIES
20 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.

JESUS PRAISES GOD
25 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.

REST IN JESUS
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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.

1And it came to passe, when Iesus had made an end of commaunding his twelue Disciples, hee departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

2Now when Iohn had heard in the prison the workes of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3And said vnto him, Art thou hee that should come? Or doe wee looke for another?

4Iesus answered and saide vnto them, Go and shew Iohn againe those things which we doe heare and see:

5The blind receiue their sight, and the lame walke, the lepers are cleansed, and the deafe heare, the dead are raised vp, and the poore haue the Gospel preached to them.

6And blessed is he, whoseouer shal not be offended in me.

7 And as they departed, Iesus began to say vnto the multitudes concerning Iohn, what went ye out into the wildernesse to see? a reede shaken with the winde?

8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that weare soft cloathing, are in kings houses.

9But what went ye out for to see? A Prophet? yea, I say vnto you, and more then a Prophet.

10For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

11Uerely I say vnto you, Among them that are borne of women, there hath not risen a greater then Iohn the Baptist: notwithstanding, hee that is least in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he.

12And from the dayes of Iohn the Baptist, vntill now, the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

13For all the Prophets, and the Law prophecied vntill Iohn.

14And if ye wil receiue it, this is Elias which was for to come.

15Hee that hath eares to heare, let him heare.

16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like vnto children, sitting in the markets, and calling vnto their fellowes,

17And saying, we haue piped vnto you, and ye haue not danced: wee haue mourned vnto you, and ye haue not lamented.

18For Iohn came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he hath a deuill.

19The sonne of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine bibber, a friend of publicanes and sinners: but wisedom is iustified of her children.

20 Then began he to vpbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

21Woe vnto thee Chorazin, woe vnto thee Bethsaida: for if the mightie workes which were done in you, had bene done in Tyre and Sidon, they would haue repented long agoe in sackcloth and ashes.

22But I say vnto you, It shall bee more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of iudgement, then for you.

23And thou Capernaum, which art exalted vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: For if the mighty works which haue beene done in thee, had bin done in Sodome, it would haue remained vntil this day.

24But I say vnto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in þe day of iudgment, then for thee.

25 At that time Iesus answered, and said, I thanke thee, O Father, Lord of heauen and earth, because thou hast hid these things frō the wise & prudent, & hast reueiled them vnto babes.

26Euen so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27All things are deliuered vnto me of my father: and no man knoweth the sonne but the father: neither knoweth any man the father, saue the sonne, and hee to whomsoeuer the sonne will reueile him.

28 Come vnto me all yee that labour, and are heauy laden, and I will giue you rest.

29Take my yoke vpon you, and learne of me, for I am meeke and lowly in heart: and yee shall find rest vnto your soules.

30For my yoke is easie, and my burden is light.

I == Matt 7:28 ; 13:53 ; 19:1 ; 26:1

II == Luke 7:18-35

III == Gen 49:10 ; Num 24:17 ; Dan 9:24 ; Hab 2:3 ; Mark 1:7-8 ; John 6:14 ; 11:27

V == Isa 29:18 ; 35:5-6 ; 61:1 ; Luke 4:18-19 ; James 2:5

VI == Isa 8:14-15 ; 13:57 ; 24:10 ; 26:31 ; Gal 5:11 ; 1st Peter 2:8

VII == Luke 7:24 ; Eph 4:14

IX == Matt 14:5 ; 21:26 ; Luke 1:76 ; 7:27

X == Mal 3:1 ; Mark 1:2 ; Luke 1:76 ; 7:27

XI == Luke 16:16

XII == Luke 16:16

XIII == Mal 4:6

XIV == Mal 4:5 ; Matt 12:12 ; 17:10-12 ; John 1:21 ; Luke 1:17

XV == Matt 13:9 , 43 ; Mark 4:23 ; Luke 8:8 ; Rev 2:7 , 11 , 17 , 29 ; 3:6 , 13 , 22 ; 13:9

XVI == Luke 7:31-35

XIX == Luke 7:35

XX == Luke 10:13-16

XXI == John 3:7-8

XXIII == Isa 14:13 ; Lam 2:1

XXIV == Matt 10:15 ; Luke 10:12

XXV == Ps 8:2 ; Matt 16:17 ; Luke 10:21-22 ; 1st Cor 1:19 , 27 ; 2:8 ; 2nd Cor 3:14

XXVII == Matt 28:18 ; Luke 10:22 ; John 1:18 ; 3:35 ; 5:20 ; 6:46 ; 7:29 ; 10:15 ; 13:3 ; 17:2 , 25 ; 1st Cor 15:27

XXIX == Phil 2:5 Jer 6:16 ; Zech 9:9 ; John 13:15

XXX == 1st John 5:3

1 When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns. 2 When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him 3 with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" 4 Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 6 And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." 7 As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. 9 Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' 11 Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. 13 All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. 15 Whoever has ears ought to hear. 16 "To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 17 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by her works." 20 Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And as for you, Capernaum: 'Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.' For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." 25 At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

v 1. This naturally follows up the instruction to disciples in chapter 10. v 2- 6. Similar to Lk. 19-23. After his year of terrific preaching, John the Baptist thought Jesus would set up the kingdom immediately. Instead, he found himself in prison and wondering if in spite of the miracles, Jesus was truly the Messiah after all. Jesus performed many miracles in front of John’s disciples so he could be assured this was the Messiah. He knew John would be reminded of Isa. 35:5,6 and 61:1.

Scandalized in me: That is, the disgraceful death of the cross which I shall endure, who shall not take occasion of scandal or affence from my humility.

v 7-15. Similar to Lk. 24-28. After John’s disciples left, Jesus commended him for being a stalwart believer who was the greatest of the prophets, because he was the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah, Mal. 3:1, thus calling Himself Messiah. Though John was the greatest among men in his responsibility and perhaps morally, even the least person saved under the New Covenant would be greater positionally.

v 16-19. In Lk. 7:29-35, he inserted that humble people who had repented and were baptized by John accepted Jesus’ teaching, but the Pharisees and those who should have had the best understanding of the Law, rejected both John the Baptist and Christ. Jesus said the Pharisees were like children playing music and upset that people didn't’t dance to their tune. They thought John was too strict, Jesus too liberal.

v 20-24. The Gentile cities would receive terrible punishment, but since the three Jewish cities at the northwest edge of the Sea of Galilee had seen all Jesus miracles and still rejected Him, they would suffer even greater. Lk. 12: 48. “much required”. Luke adds that those who despised the disciples would despise Him, and if they despised Him, they would despise the One who sent him, the Father. 

v 25-30. In contrast to the judgments pronounced upon those cities, Jesus gently calls all who would to turn to Him. Learned Pharisees had rejected Him, but little children had come to Him. The only people in heaven will be little children and people who have come to Him with the faith of little children. He urges all who are burdened down and weary with sin to come to Him and He will lighten their load and put them spiritually at rest.