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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 11:27 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 11:27 is a declaration by Jesus about the exclusive relationship and knowledge shared between Him and the Father.

Literally, the verse is saying that everything has been handed over to Jesus by God the Father.

It emphasizes the authority and intimate connection that Jesus has with the Father.

The Son (Jesus) knows the Father, and the Father knows the Son in a way that no other being can understand.

This understanding goes beyond intellectual knowledge to a deep, personal, and relational knowledge.

Furthermore, Jesus indicates that knowing the Father is not something one can achieve on their own, but rather it is something that Jesus Himself must reveal to individuals.

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Historical Context

This verse comes from a passage where Jesus is speaking about John the Baptist and the kingdom of heaven.

In the historical context, Jesus is speaking during His earthly ministry, a time when He was revealing His identity and the nature of the kingdom of God.

The culture was heavily influenced by Jewish law and prophecy, and Jesus's teachings often challenged the prevailing religious understanding of who the Messiah would be and how God interacted with humanity.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is central to understanding Christian views on the Trinity and revelation.

The unique relationship between the Father and the Son reflects the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, where God is one Being in three distinct Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The verse shows the authority of Christ and His divinity. Since Jesus has the role of revealing the Father, it also speaks to the Christian understanding of revelation, that knowledge of God comes through Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can encourage individuals to seek a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, as Jesus is presented as the mediator who can reveal the Father.

It reassures believers of the unique role that Jesus plays in their spiritual life and emphasizes the need for humility, as understanding of God is given, not earned.

Cross-References

John 10:15: "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."
John 14:9: "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?"
John 17:2: "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

Language Study

In studying the key words in the original Greek language:

"Delivered" (παραδεδομένα, paradidomi) conveys the idea of handing over or entrusting, indicating a transfer of authority or possession.
"Knoweth" (ἐπιγινώσκει, epiginosko) in this context refers to a deep, experiential knowledge, beyond just an intellectual understanding.
"Reveal" (ἀποκαλύψαι, apokalupto) carries the sense of uncovering or disclosing something that has been hidden.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, the concept of a mediator between the divine and humanity is not unique to Christianity. For instance, in ancient Egyptian religion, the god Thoth was considered an intermediary between the gods and people.

However, the Christian claim of exclusivity in Jesus as the sole revealer of God is distinctive.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse does not directly intersect with physical or empirical sciences.

However, psychology and the cognitive sciences explore the nature of relational knowledge and the human experience of understanding, which could provide insight into the depth of relational knowledge referred to in this verse.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians interpret this verse with some common threads.

Many agree that it emphasizes the unique relationship between Jesus and the Father, and they see it as a pivotal statement on Christ's divine authority and role as the mediator between God and humans.

Some commentaries might delve into the implications for the doctrine of the Trinity, while others would focus more on the application of this verse in the life of believers in terms of revelation and relationship with God.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:27 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 11:27 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?