THE
*GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO
^ MATTHEW

Matthew 11

2John sendeth his disciples to Christ. 7Christ's testimony concerning John. 16The perverse judgments of the people concerning both John and Christ. 20Christ upbraideth the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, with their long unfruitfulness and impenitency. 25He thanketh the Father for revealing his gospel to the simple only; 28and inviteth the weary to partake of his rest.


1AND it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of 1commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in 2their cities.

1 Namely, who are related in the previous chapter.

2 Namely, of Galilee, from where His disciples were. See Acts 2:7.

2Nowa when John had heard in the 3prison 4the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

a Luke 7:18.

3 See of the cause and the end of this imprisonment of John the Baptist, Matthew 14 and Mark 6.

4 That is, signs of wonder or miracles.

3And 5said unto him, Art thou he 6that should come, or do we look for another?

5 That is, caused it to be said unto Him.

6 That is, the Messiah promised by the prophets. This John causes to be asked, not that he doubted thereof himself; for, he had long time before testified it openly, John 1:29, but to take occasion from the answer of Christ to instruct afterwards more largely His disciples hereof, who as yet somewhat doubted thereof.

4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5Theb7blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the 8poor have the gospel preached to them.

b Isa. 29:18; 35:5; 61:1; Luke 4:18.

7 These things were foretold, that they would be done by the Messiah. See Isa. 35:5.

8 Namely, in state as well as in spirit, Mat. 5:3, as it is also taken, Isa. 61:1, to which Christ here alludes.

6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be 9offended in me.

9 That is, who do not take offence at My low estate or teachings, not to believe in Me. See Mark 6:3; John 6:41, 52, 66.

7¶And asc they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A 10reed shaken with the wind?

c Luke 7:24.

10 That is, an unsteady teacher, who is driven by all manner of winds of doctrine, Eph. 4:14.

8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in 11soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

11 That is, costly and curious.

9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold,d I send my 12messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way 13before thee.

d Mal. 3:1; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27.

12 That is, ambassador or angel.

13 In the prophet Mal. 3:1, it is before me, because Christ Himself speaks there, and here Christ brings in the Father, speaking to His Son, forasmuch as John was sent by the Father as well as by the Son, Luke 3:2; John 1:6.

11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not 14risen a 15greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is 16least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

14 Gr. raised up.

15 Or, one greater.

16 Gr. the lesser, namely, amongst the teachers of the Gospel; forasmuch as they do show Christ yet more clearly, as having now perfectly accomplished whatsoever was requisite to our salvation, and publish this not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles.

12Ande from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth 17violence, and the 18violent take it by force.

e Luke 16:16.

17 That is, it is received of great multitudes and with great zeal.

18 That is, those who seek after salvation with great earnestness and zeal, like those who will draw anything to them by force, Philip. 3:8, 12.

13For all the prophets and the law 19prophesied until John.

19 That is, have foretold and prefigured the coming of the Messiah, Whom John pointed at as being now present, and having come.

14Andf if ye will receive it, this is 20Elias, which was for to come.

f Mal. 4:5; Luke 1:17.

20 Not Elijah, the Tishbite, in person, John 1:21, but he who was to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, Luke 1:17.

1521He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

21 That is, he who has received the Spirit of understanding of God, let him take notice hereof with attention, 2 Cor. 3:5.

16¶But whereunto shall I 22liken this generation? Itg is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

22 By this parable Christ teaches that He had sought all means, gentle as well as harsh, to bring them to repentance.

g Luke 7:31.

17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not 23lamented.

23 Gr. not smitten on the breast, that is, have shown no sign of sorrow.

18Forh John came 24neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

h Mat. 3:4; Mark 1:6.

24 Namely, after the common manner of other men.

19The 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 25justified of her children.

25 That is, Christ, Who is called the Wisdom of the Father, Prov. 8:12, etc.; 1 Cor. 1:24, or His doctrine was acknowledged and received for good and right of its true disciples.

20¶Theni began he to 26upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

i Luke 10:13.

26 To reprove them to their shame, and to threaten woe unto them.

21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in 27Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented 28long ago in 29sackclothj and ashes.

27 These were two cities of the Gentiles situated at the Mediterranean Sea in Phoenicia, which in former times lived in excessive luxury, splendor and wantonness. See Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 26; 27.

28 Namely, while they were yet in their flourishing and prosperous state, before they were taken by force and laid waste by Alexander the Great.

29 By such signs they showed repentance in former times, see Isa. 58:5; Lam. 2:10; Dan. 9:3; Jonah 3:6.

j 2 Sam. 13:19; 2 Kings 6:30; 19:1.

22Butk I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

k Mat. 10:15.

23And thou, Capernaum, which art 30exalted 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.

30 As well in respect of your prosperity, as by the habitation, doctrine and miracles of Christ.

24But I say unto you, Thatl it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

l Mat. 10:15.

25¶Atm that time Jesus 31answered and said, I 32thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, becausen thou hast hid these things from 33the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto 34babes.

m Luke 10:21.

31 This seems to refer here to the account which the seventy disciples had made unto Him of the outcome of their journey, as may be gathered out of Luke 10:17.

32 Gr. confess, that is, thank or praise.

n Job 5:12; Isa. 29:14; Luke 10:21; 1 Cor. 1:19; 2:7, 8.

33 Namely, according to the flesh, or, of this world. See 1 Cor. 1:20, 26.

34 That is, who are children in understanding, or who are esteemed little. See 1 Cor. 1:27 and 14:20.

26Even so, Father: for so it seemed 35good in thy sight.

35 That is, Thy good pleasure; of which good pleasure see Luke 2:14 and 12:32; Eph. 1:5.

27Allo things are delivered unto me of my Father: and nop man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willq36reveal him.

o Mat. 28:18; Luke 10:22; John 3:35.

p John 1:18; 6:46.

q wish, desire*

36 Namely, by His Word and Spirit, 1 Cor. 2:11, 12.

28¶Come unto me, all ye that 37labour and are 38heavy laden,r and I will give you rest.

37 Or, labor unto weariness.

38 Namely, with the burden of sins, or also of the law and human ordinances.

r burdened*

29Take my 39yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meeks and lowly in heart: tand ye shall find rest unto your souls.

39 That is, My doctrine, consisting in commandments as well as in promises.

s Psalm 45:4.

t Jer. 6:16.

30Foru my yoke is 40easy, and my burden 41is light.

u 1 John 5:3.

40 That is, soft, or gracious to carry.

41 It is so called, because Christ, by His merits and the power of His Spirit, makes the same light. See Rom. 8:26 and 1 John 5:3, 4, which is contrasted to the unbearable yoke of the law, Acts 15:10, and of human ordinances, Mat. 23:4.