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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 11:22 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 11:22 belongs to a passage in which Jesus denounces the cities in which many of his miracles were performed because they did not repent.

The verse features a direct statement from Jesus, declaring that the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon, known for their ancient sins and eventual judgment, will experience a less severe judgment on the day of reckoning than the cities of Galilee that rejected Jesus’ message.

This hyperbolic comparison highlights the gravity of unrepentance despite the clear evidence of Jesus' divinity through his works.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Matthew 11:22 is set in the first century during Jesus' ministry in Galilee.

Tyre and Sidon were significant cities in ancient Phoenicia, with a history of practices such as idolatry and economic prosperity that often led to moral corruption, as depicted in various parts of the Old Testament.

They had already faced judgments prophesied by Old Testament prophets.

However, despite their notorious past, Jesus states that their judgment would be more tolerable because they did not witness his miracles nor reject the message of the Kingdom of God as the Galilean cities did.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Matthew 11:22 underscores the concept of "light received and rejected" as a measure of accountability.

Those who witness the works of Christ and still reject Him are held to a higher standard than those who have not seen such evidence.

Jesus is emphasizing the importance of repentance and acceptance of the gospel message.

The verse also touches upon eschatological themes, referring to the "day of judgment," a time when God will judge all humanity. The severity of judgment tied to one's response to the gospel becomes a central element in many Christian teachings.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life by recognizing the importance of being responsive to the spiritual opportunities presented to us.

It encourages self-examination of how individuals respond to the possibility of repentance and faith when confronted with the message of Christ.

Furthermore, it is a call to value the access we have to scriptural truths and the teachings of Jesus, not taking them for granted, as this holds intrinsic value and responsibility.

Cross-References

Luke 10:14 – "But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you."
Matthew 11:24 – "But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."
Ezekiel 28:20-23 – A prophecy against Sidon, showing its historical judgment.
Isaiah 23 – A chapter detailing a prophecy against Tyre.
Luke 12:47-48 – "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."

Language Study

The phrase "more tolerable" translates from the Greek word "anektoteron," which can connote endurance or something more bearable. By employing this term, Jesus contrasts the relative levels of accountability and judgment.

"Tyre and Sidon," Greek "Tyros kai Sidon," are the names of two ancient and influential city-states condemned in the Old Testament.

"The day of judgment," "hemera krisews," refers to the eschatological day of God's final and ultimate judgment of the world.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of cultural and religious comparisons, Matthew 11:22 can be viewed against the backdrop of ancient societies that also held concepts of divine judgment and afterlife reckoning.

For instance, in ancient Egypt, the idea of Ma'at and the weighing of the heart against the feather of truth is akin to a form of judgment based on deeds.

However, the verse is distinct in its eschatological monotheistic focus and the centrality of one's response to the revelation of God in Christ.

Scientific Perspectives

While the concept of a "day of judgment" is fundamentally theological and eschatological, scientific perspectives encourage exploring human psychology and behavior in response to beliefs about accountability and afterlife.

Research in moral psychology could shed light on how beliefs in divine judgment influence ethical decision-making.

Moreover, contemporary cosmology's exploration of the universe’s eventual fate may provide language and concepts that can be used in dialogues about eschatological themes, albeit not directly substantiating theological claims.

Commentaries

Expert commentators offer various interpretations of this passage.

Commentaries like the Expositor's Bible Commentary emphasize the grave responsibility of those who saw Jesus' miracles yet remained unrepentant.

Others, such as the MacArthur Bible Commentary, point out that this statement by Jesus indicates that there are degrees of punishment in hell, corresponding to the light and opportunity one had to repent.

William Barclay notes the astonishing mercy of Jesus, who could still speak of a more “tolerable” condition for cities renowned for their iniquity, offering a glimmer of hope in judgment.

Overall, commentaries focus on the principles of judgment based on revelation and the imperative to heed the call to repentance.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:22 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 11:22 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?