Matthew 11 – Jesus' Authority, John’s Question, and the Call to Rest

Overview: The Contrast Between Faith and Rejection

🔹 Timeframe: Jesus’ Galilean ministry.

🔹 Setting: Various locations where Jesus teaches and performs miracles.

🔹 Theme: Faith leads to revelation and rest, but rejection leads to judgment.

Key Takeaways

🔑 Doubt does not disqualify faith—Jesus reassures, not condemns.

🔑 Spiritual pride blinds people to the truth, while humility opens the heart.

🔑 Greater revelation brings greater responsibility.

🔑 Jesus alone reveals the Father and offers rest for the weary.

Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment

🔮 Messianic Signs & Isaiah’s Prophecy – Jesus’ miracles confirm He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 35:5-6, 61:1.

🔮 The Judgment of Cities – Similar to Jeremiah 25:29, which speaks of God’s judgment on those who reject Him.

🔮 The Call to Rest – Foreshadowed in Exodus 33:14, where God promises His presence will bring rest.

Historical & Cultural Context

📜 John the Baptist’s Doubt – Imprisoned by Herod, John may have expected a political deliverance, not just spiritual salvation.

📜 Jewish Expectations of the Messiah – Many anticipated a warrior-king, not a suffering servant.

📜 Rabbinic Burdens – The Pharisees imposed strict laws (Matthew 23:4), but Jesus offered a lighter yoke—grace instead of legalism.

💡 Final Reflection: Do We Accept or Reject Christ’s Call?

Matthew 11 reveals the stark difference between those who embrace Jesus and those who reject Him. His invitation remains open, but delaying faith leads to greater accountability.

📌 Are we bringing our doubts to Jesus, as John did?
📌 Do we recognize that rejecting truth brings judgment?
📌 Have we fully embraced Christ’s rest, surrendering to His yoke?

🚀 Jesus invites all who are weary to come to Him—will we respond?

Messengers from John the Baptist
Mat 11:1  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. 
Mat 11:2  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 
Mat 11:3  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 
Mat 11:4  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 
Mat 11:5  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. 
Mat 11:6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 
Mat 11:7  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? 
Mat 11:8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 
Mat 11:9  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 
Mat 11:10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 
Mat 11:11  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. 
Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 
Mat 11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 
Mat 11:14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 
Mat 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 
Mat 11:16  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 
Mat 11:17  And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 
Mat 11:18  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 
Mat 11:19  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. 

Woe to Unrepentant Cities
Mat 11:20  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 
Mat 11:21  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. 
Mat 11:22  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 
Mat 11:23  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. 
Mat 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. 

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
Mat 11:25  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. 
Mat 11:26  Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 
Mat 11:27  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. 
Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Mat 11:29  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. 
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.