Matthew 11 is the eleventh chapter in the
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew), or simply Matthew. It is most commonly abbreviated as "Matt." is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells how Israel's Messiah, Jesus, comes to his people and for ...
in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
section of the Christian
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
. It continues the narrative about
Jesus' ministry in
Galilee
Galilee (; he, הַגָּלִיל, hagGālīl; ar, الجليل, al-jalīl) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and Lower Galil ...
.
Text
The original text was written in
Koine Greek
Koine Greek (; Koine el, ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος, hē koinè diálektos, the common dialect; ), also known as Hellenistic Greek, common Attic, the Alexandrian dialect, Biblical Greek or New Testament Greek, was the common supra-reg ...
.
This chapter is divided into 30 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
*
Papyrus 70
Papyrus 70 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), designated by 𝔓70, is an early copy of the New Testament in Greek. It is a papyrus manuscript of the Gospel of Matthew. The surviving texts of Matthew are verses 2:13-16; 2:22-3:1; 11:26-27; 12:4-5; ...
(3rd century; extant verses 26-27)
*
Codex Vaticanus
The Codex Vaticanus ( The Vatican, Bibl. Vat., Vat. gr. 1209), designated by siglum B or 03 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), δ 1 ( von Soden), is a fourth-century Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Greek Old ...
(325-350)
*
Codex Sinaiticus
The Codex Sinaiticus (Shelfmark: London, British Library, Add MS 43725), designated by siglum [Aleph] or 01 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 2 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts) ...
(330-360; complete)
*
Papyrus 62
Papyrus 62 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), signed by 𝔓62, known also as ‘‘Papyrus Osloensis’’, is a copy of the New Testament and Septuagint in Greek-Coptic. It is a papyrus manuscript of the Gospel of Matthew and Book of Daniel. Th ...
(4th century; extant verses 25-30; also contains verses 25-29 in the
Coptic language
Coptic (Bohairic Coptic: , ) is a language family of closely related dialects, representing the most recent developments of the Egyptian language, and historically spoken by the Copts, starting from the third-century AD in Roman Egypt. Coptic ...
)
*
Papyrus 19 (4th/5th century; extant verses 1–5)
*
Codex Bezae (~400)
*
Codex Washingtonianus (~400)
*
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus
The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (Paris, National Library of France, Greek 9) designated by the siglum C or 04 {in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 3 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts), is a ma ...
(~450; complete)
*
Codex Purpureus Rossanensis
The Rossano Gospels, designated by 042 or Σ (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 18 ( Soden), held at the cathedral of Rossano in Italy, is a 6th-century illuminated manuscript Gospel Book written following the reconquest of the Italian penins ...
(6th century)
*
Codex Petropolitanus Purpureus
Codex Petropolitanus Purpureus, designated by N or 022 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 19 ( Soden), is a Greek New Testament codex containing the four Gospels. It has been paleographically dated to the 6th century.
Codex Petropolitanus Pu ...
(6th century; extant verses 4-30)
*
Codex Sinopensis
The Sinope Gospels, designated by O or 023 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 21 ( Soden), also known as the Codex Sinopensis, is a fragment of a 6th-century illuminated Greek Gospel Book. Along with the Rossano Gospels, the Sinope Gospels has ...
(6th century; extant verses 5-12)
Structure
This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to the other
gospels
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
):
*
Matthew 11:1 = Ministry of Jesus (continuation of
Matthew 10:34-
42) (; ; )
*
Matthew 11:2-
19 =
Messengers from John the Baptist
The messengers who came from John the Baptist to Jesus are referred to in and in the New Testament.
Their deputation to meet with Jesus is recounted after the Baptism of Jesus, when John is in prison in the fort of Machaerus and hears of the wo ...
()
*
Matthew 11:20–
24 =
Cursing Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum ()
*
Matthew 11:25–
30 = Praising the
Father ()
The
New King James Version
The New King James Version (NKJV) is an English translation of the Bible. The complete NKJV Bible was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson, now HarperCollins. The NKJV is described by Thomas Nelson as being "scrupulously faithful to the origin ...
organises this chapter as follows:
* = John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
* = Woe to the Impenitent Cities
* = Jesus gives True Rest
John the Baptist sent messengers to Jesus
Verses 2 to 6 relate to John the Baptist's enquiry about Jesus, relayed by his
messengers. Verses 7 to 19 recount Jesus' assessment of John's ministry.
Verses 2–3
:''Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,''
:''And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?''
Some translations use descriptive words to refer to the expected
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
: "the one who is to come" (
English Standard Version
The English Standard Version (ESV) is an English translation of the Bible. Published in 2001 by Crossway, the ESV was "created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors." The ESV relies on recently published critic ...
, New Heart English Bible), or "the one we are waiting for" (
Living Bible
The Living Bible (TLB or LB) is a personal paraphrase, not a translation, of the Bible in English by Kenneth N. Taylor and first published in 1971. Taylor used the American Standard Version of 1901 as his base text.
Origin
In a 1979 interview ...
), whereas other translations render the gr, ο ερχομενος, ''ho erchomenos'', as a title: "the Expected One" (
New American Standard Bible), "the Coming One" (
Weymouth New Testament
The Weymouth New Testament ("WNT"), otherwise known as ''The New Testament in Modern Speech'' or ''The Modern Speech New Testament'', is a translation of the New Testament into nineteenth-century English by Richard Francis Weymouth.
It was based ...
,
New King James Version
The New King James Version (NKJV) is an English translation of the Bible. The complete NKJV Bible was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson, now HarperCollins. The NKJV is described by Thomas Nelson as being "scrupulously faithful to the origin ...
).
Verses 20-24
Having set out in verse 1 "to teach and to preach in their cities", verses 20-24 give an account of Jesus' condemnation of the cities of
Galilee
Galilee (; he, הַגָּלִיל, hagGālīl; ar, الجليل, al-jalīl) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and Lower Galil ...
for their refusal to
repent. Jesus worked most of his
miracles or "deeds of power" in these cities.
Verse 25
:''At that time, Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.''
German Protestant theologian
Karl Theodor Keim called this text a "pearl of the sayings of Jesus".
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
has noted with support that
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign ...
"often pointed out that the
theologian
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
must remain attentive to the faith lived by the humble and the small, to whom it pleased the Father to reveal that which He had hidden from the learned and the wise”.
Verse 27
:''All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.''
The
Jerusalem Bible
''The Jerusalem Bible'' (JB or TJB) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd. As a Catholic Bible, it includes 73 books: the 39 books shared with the Hebrew Bible, along with the seven deuterocanonical ...
suggests that this verse has "a
Johannine flavour", observing that "awareness of Christ's
divine sonship exists in the deepest stratum of the
synoptic tradition as well as in
">ohn"
Verse 28
:''Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,''
:: ''and I will give you rest.''
"Come unto me" ( gr, δεῦτε πρός με, ''deute pros me''): also in , where the gr, δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου, ''deute opiso mou'', is often translated as "follow me".
[e.g. King James Version, Revised Standard Version] In verse 28 there is less thought of the process of coming than in the very similar invitation in .
[Joseph S. Exell; Henry Donald Maurice Spence-Jones (Editors). The ]Pulpit Commentary
The ''Pulpit Commentary'' is a homiletic commentary on the Bible created during the nineteenth century under the direction of Rev. Joseph S. Exell and Henry Donald Maurice Spence-Jones. It consists of 23 volumes with 22,000 pages and 95,000 entrie ...
. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890.
Old manuscripts
Papyrus 62
Papyrus 62 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), signed by 𝔓62, known also as ‘‘Papyrus Osloensis’’, is a copy of the New Testament and Septuagint in Greek-Coptic. It is a papyrus manuscript of the Gospel of Matthew and Book of Daniel. Th ...
(4th century)
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-recto-1-3-5-7-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 recto 1 3 5 7
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-verso-2-4-6-8-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 verso 2 4 6 8
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-recto-9-11-13-15-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 recto 9 11 13 15
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-verso-10-12-14-16-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 verso 10 12 14 16
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-recto-17-19-21-23-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 recto 17 19 21 23
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-verso-18-20-22-24-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 verso 18 20 22 24
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-recto-25-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 recto 25
File:P062-Mat-11.25-30-verso-26-IV.jpg, Mat 11.25-30 verso 26
Uses
Music
The
King James Version
The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...
of verses 28–30 from this chapter are cited as texts in the English-language
oratorio
An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...
"
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
" by
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...
(HWV 56).
[
]
See also
*
John the Baptist
John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
*
Weddings and Funerals
* Related
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
parts:
Matthew 10
Matthew 10 is the tenth chapter in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament section of the Christian Bible. This chapter opens with Jesus calling some of his disciples and sending them out to preach and heal. This section is also known as the ...
,
Mark 13
Mark 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It contains Jesus' predictions of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and disaster for Judea, as well as his eschatological discourse.Hall ...
,
Luke 7
Luke 7 is the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It tells the records of two great miracles performed by Jesus, his reply to John the Baptist's question, and the anointing by a sinful woman.Halley, ...
,
Luke 10,
Luke 12
Luke 12 is the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records a number of teachings and parables told by Jesus Christ when "an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together", but addressed " ...
,
Luke 21
Luke 21 is the twenty-first chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the observations and predictions of Jesus Christ delivered in the temple in Jerusalem.Halley, Henry H. ''Halley's Bible Handbook'': a ...
References
External links
*
* King James Bible - Wikisource
English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org(ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
Multiple bible versions at ''Bible Gateway''(NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
{{Matthew 11
Gospel of Matthew chapters
Bethsaida
Phoenicians in the New Testament
Chorazin
Capernaum