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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 11:25 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 11:25 is a passage within the New Testament where Jesus expresses gratitude to God the Father, acknowledging the divine wisdom in revealing truths to those who are humble and childlike ("babes") rather than to those who are self-assured in their own wisdom ("the wise and prudent").

The verse highlights the theme of divine revelation being granted to those who approach God with humility and faith, as opposed to those who rely solely on human intellect and understanding.

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Historical Context

Matthew 11:25 is part of a larger discourse where Jesus is speaking about the responses of the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, and their rejection of him. During this era, Jewish society held scribes and Pharisees in high esteem as learned and wise individuals.

However, Jesus often criticized their attitudes and lack of true understanding of God's desires.

This verse is set against the backdrop of first-century Jewish culture where knowledge and prestige were highly valued, yet Jesus points to a different understanding of divine knowledge.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse suggests that spiritual enlightenment and comprehension of God's kingdom are not necessarily linked to human wisdom or status.

Some interpret this as God's preferential option for the simple and the outcasts, aligning with other biblical passages emphasizing God's care for the lowly and marginalized. Others view it as a call to intellectual humility before God, recognizing that divine truths surpass human wisdom.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, Matthew 11:25 can be seen as an encouragement to maintain a humble and teachable spirit. It can serve as a reminder to value simplicity and childlike trust over pride and a know-it-all attitude.

The verse also challenges individuals to re-evaluate how knowledge is attained, emphasizing the importance of spiritual discernment alongside intellectual inquiry.

Cross-References

Luke 10:21: "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that 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."
1 Corinthians 1:27: "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
Matthew 18:3: "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Language Study

The key words in this verse in Greek, the original language of the New Testament, include:

"Apokalypto" (revealed): This term suggests an unveiling or uncovering, specifically of divine truth.
"Nepios" (babes): Referring to infants or children, symbolizing innocence and a lack of sophistication.

By contrasting "sophos" (wise) with "nepios" (babes), Jesus emphasizes the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God compared to the world's values.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, wisdom was often personified and highly valued, such as in Greek philosophy where figures like Socrates and Plato were venerated.

However, the Hebrew tradition also had a rich understanding of wisdom (Chokmah/Sophia), but emphasized that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). This contrasted with prevailing beliefs that equated wisdom with intellectual achievements or elite status.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, understanding the cognitive development of children ('babes'), their learning processes, and their perception of the world can shed light on why Jesus might have used them as a model for receiving divine truth.

Children are known for their capacity to absorb information, their openness to new experiences, and their humility in knowledge, which are qualities that can be spiritually significant as well.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 11:25 often focus on the paradoxical message of Jesus.

They note his emphasis on the value of childlike receptivity to divine truths over intellectual accomplishment or self-righteousness.

Notably, scholars point out Jesus' prayer of thanksgiving to the Father as a profound moment of revealing the Father-Son relationship and the mysterious ways of God's revelations.

This verse is viewed by many as a reflection of the Gospel's inclusive posture towards all people, regardless of societal status or intellectual capacity.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:25 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 11:25 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?