MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:1 Opposition to the Messiah Increases. There has been occasional resistance to Jesus’ ministry (e.g., Matthew 9:3). It now begins to increase significantly, as seen first in the honest questions of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:2), then in the hostility of the Jewish religi... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:2 JOHN 1:1 was put IN PRISON by Herod Antipas (see Matthew 14:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:3 ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME? John is probably concerned because his current imprisonment does not match his understanding of the Coming One’s arrival. He thought the Messiah would bless those who repented and judge those who did not (see note on 3:11). Jesus’ ministry... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:6 BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO IS NOT OFFENDED BY ME. Jesus’ words are a mild rebuke to John and his disciples. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:10 WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY. See note on 3:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:11 Jesus contrasts human birth (THOSE BORN OF WOMEN) with the new birth into the kingdom of heaven. GREATER THAN HE. Those IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN have the greater privilege because they have actually entered the kingdom and take part in the new covenant through the blood... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:12 SUFFERED VIOLENCE... THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE. This probably indicates opposition from the religious leaders and people like Herod Antipas, though it may be picturing forceful self-denial. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:13 ALL THE PROPHETS AND THE LAW PROPHESIED UNTIL JOHN. John the Baptist was the last of a long line of prophets who looked forward to Christ’s coming. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:14 HE IS ELIJAH WHO IS TO COME. Malachi prophesied that “Elijah” would prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:5; see note on Mal. 4:4–6). John’s earlier denial that he was Elijah (John 1:21) was probably an attempt to correct a popular belief that Elijah h... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:16 THIS GENERATION. The crowds and the religious leaders who have rejected John’s and Jesus’ ministries. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:17 WE PLAYED THE FLUTE... AND YOU DID NOT DANCE. The people reject the gospel because John and Jesus do not meet their expectations. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:18 NEITHER EATING NOR DRINKING. Some apparently accused John of demonic influence because of his appearance and simple lifestyle. SON OF MAN CAME EATING AND DRINKING. Jesus’ association with those in need of spiritual healing, and his refusal to fast according to Pharisaic... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:20 CHORAZIN was just northwest of Capernaum. For BETHSAIDA and CAPERNAUM, see note on Luke 9:10. SODOM was the ultimate example of a “city of sin” (see Genesis 18:20). Yet, Jesus says, even Sodom would have repented if it had witnessed his miracles and the reality of the k... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:25 THESE THINGS. The message and activities of the kingdom of heaven, which require faith and humility to grasp. WISE AND UNDERSTANDING. Those who are wise in the world’s eyes but who stubbornly refuse to accept the gospel. LITTLE CHILDREN. Those who receive the gospel in... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:27 ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO ME BY MY FATHER. This reveals Jesus’ understanding of who he is. It also shows the supreme authority of God the Father within the Trinity. “All things” probably refers to everything needed to carry out Christ’s ministry of redemption.... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:28 ALL WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN refers in the first instance to those oppressed by the religious legalism imposed on people by the scribes and Pharisees. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 11:29 YOKE. The wooden frame joining two animals (usually oxen) for pulling heavy loads. It was a metaphor for one person’s relationship to another, and also a common metaphor for the law. The Pharisees’ interpretation of the law, with its extensive list of rules, had become... [ Continue Reading ]