BWE - Matthew - 11

11:1  When Jesus finished telling his twelve disciples what to do, he left that place. He went to teach and tell God’s word to people in the towns around there.

11:2  John was in prison. He heard what Christ was doing. So he sent two of his disciples to him.

11:3  He asked, ‘Are you the one who will come? Or shall we wait for another person?’

11:4  Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see.

11:5  Blind people see. Lame people walk. People with leprosy are healed. People who could not hear, can hear. Dead people are made alive. Poor people hear the good news.

11:6  Anyone who is not troubled in his heart about me, will be happy.’

11:7  When John’s disciples went away, Jesus began to talk to people about John. He said, ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Did you go out to see a tall grass moved by the wind?

11:8  What did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? People who wear fine clothes live in kings’ houses.

11:9  Why did you go out? To see a prophet of God? Yes, I tell you, and he is much more than a prophet.

11:10  He is the man the holy writings tell about. “See, I send my messenger ahead of you. He will make the way ready for you.”

11:11  ‘I tell you the truth. No one has ever been born who is greater than John the Baptizer. And yet the smallest one in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

11:12  From the time of John until now, people try hard to break into the kingdom of heaven. And strong people take hold of it.

11:13  All the prophets and the books of the law gave God’s word until John came.

11:14  If you will believe it, this man is the Elijah who would come.

11:15  Everyone who has ears, listen.

11:16  ‘What shall I say that the people of today are like? They are like children who sit in the market. They call to the other children.

11:17  They say, “We played music for you, but you did not dance. We cried, but you did not cry.”

11:18  John came. He does not eat or drink much. People say, “He has a bad spirit in him!”

11:19  The Son of Man came. He eats and drinks. People say, “This man eats and drinks too much! He is a friend with tax collectors and bad people!” But a man is proved to be wise by what he has done.’

11:20  Then Jesus began to talk about the towns where he had done most of his big works. He said hard things about the people, because they did not stop their wrong ways and turn back to God.

11:21  He said, ‘Chorazin! You will have trouble! Bethsaida! You will have trouble! If the big works I did in you had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have stopped their wrong ways long ago. They would wear the clothes people wear to show they are sad. They would sit in ashes.

11:22  But I tell you, on the day when people are judged, you will be punished harder than the people from the cities of Tyre and Sidon.

11:23  Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the sky? No, you will go down to death. If the big things I did in you had been done in the city of Sodom, it would be standing now.

11:24  But I tell you, on the day when people are judged you will be punished harder than the people from Sodom.’

11:25  Then Jesus said, ‘Father, you are Lord of heaven and earth. I thank you because you have hidden these things from people who are wise and know many things. But you have shown them to people who are like children.

11:26  Yes, Father, that was the way you wanted it.’

11:27  He said, ‘My Father has given everything to me. No one knows who the Son is but the Father. No one knows who the Father is but the Son and those to whom the Son wants to show him.

11:28  All you who work hard! All you who carry heavy loads! Come to me! I will give you rest.

11:29  Do what I tell you. Learn what I teach you. I am gentle. I am not proud. Then your hearts will rest.

11:30  What I tell you to do is easy. What I give you to carry is not heavy.’