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Matthew 11

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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

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

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What does Matthew 11:13 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 11:13 is a verse from the New Testament which speaks about the role and importance of John the Baptist in the history of biblical prophecy.

Literally, Jesus is stating that all the prophets and the law, which refers to the prophetic teachings and the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament, were pointing toward a time that would culminate with the arrival of John the Baptist.

This verse signifies a transitional point where the era of the Old Testament prophets is seen as completed with John, and the inauguration of the kingdom of heaven, preached by Jesus, begins.

The verse implies a deeper meaning that the teachings and prophecies of the Old Testament were not an end in themselves, but were preparing the way for something greater - the new covenant and the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

In this view, John the Baptist is the pivotal figure who bridges the old and the new, the final prophet who announces the arrival of the Messiah.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience.

Matthew often aimed to present Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and to relate Jesus' teachings back to the Hebrew Scriptures.

Around this time, there would have been significant expectation and anticipation for a messianic figure based on such prophecy, and different groups within Judaism would have varied opinions on what this would entail.

John the Baptist himself was a historical figure, known for his ascetic lifestyle and his baptizing of individuals in the Jordan River.

He called people to repentance in preparation for the coming of God's kingdom.

John's role as a prophetic figure is also attested in other historical sources, such as the works of the Jewish historian Josephus.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives interpret this verse in various ways:

Dispensationalism: This view sees a clear distinction between the era of the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament period) and the era of Grace (the New Testament period).

John the Baptist is seen as the last Old Testament prophet.

Covenant Theology: Advocates here argue that there is a unity to the Bible's story, and while they agree John is a key figure, they may emphasize the continued relevance of the Old Testament in understanding the New Testament and gospel.
Cessationism: Cessationists might use this verse to argue that the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, such as prophecy, ceased with the coming of Christ, whom John the Baptist heralded.
Continuationism: In contrast, continuationists may acknowledge John as the closing of one prophetic chapter but believe that the gift of prophecy continues in a new form after him.

Practical Applications

Matthew 11:13 can encourage believers to read and understand the Old Testament in light of Christ's coming.

It suggests a continuity and fulfillment that can deepen faith:

Biblical Literacy: Encouraging the study of the Old Testament to appreciate the scope of God's plan.
Repentance and Readiness: Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord, individuals are called to prepare their hearts for Christ.
Understanding Prophetic Fulfillment: This perspective can help Christians recognize the importance of prophecy and its role in revealing God's will.

Cross-References

Luke 16:16 (KJV): "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
John 1:29 (KJV): "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Malachi 3:1 (KJV): "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Matthew 11:13 are:

Prophets (προφῆται - prophētai): Refers typically to the inspired teachers and announcers of the divine will within the Old Testament.
Law (νόμος - nomos): Often refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, representing the covenantal laws given to Moses.
Prophesied (προεφήτευσαν - proephēteusan): Past tense of "to prophesy," indicating that the act of delivering God's messages was carried out until John.
Until (ἔως - heōs): A conjunction indicating the end point or limit of a period of time.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural and religious context of the time, various movements within Judaism, such as the Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, had differing expectations of what the coming of the Messiah would entail.

John the Baptist might be seen as an apocalyptic figure comparable to prophetic figures in other Near Eastern cultures, who proclaimed a significant change and called for a return to righteousness.

Scientific Perspectives

There's little direct relevance between Matthew 11:13 and modern scientific understandings, as this verse deals with theological and historical claims rather than scientific ones.

However, archaeological studies might provide context for understanding the historical setting of John the Baptist, which could enhance interpretations of the verse.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentaries offer differing insights into this verse:

The Pulpit Commentary notes that the verse indicates the period of "the law and the prophets" as one preparatory to the Christian era and John as the connecting link between the two.
Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that the Mosaic age of the law and prophets pointed forward to Christ, with John being the herald of the Messiah's actual presence.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary emphasizes that Jesus viewed John as the climax of the prophetic tradition pointing to the imminent kingdom.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 11:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?