Matthew 11

11Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to ^ateach and to preach in their cities.

Rejection of John the Baptist

Luke 7:19–30

^2bAnd when John had heard ^cin prison about the works of Christ, he ¹sent two of his disciples ³and said to Him, “Are You ^dthe Coming One, or do we look for another?”

⁴Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ^5eThe blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and ^fthe poor have the gospel preached to them. ⁶And blessed is he who is not ^goffended because of Me.”

^7hAs they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? ⁱA reed shaken by the wind? ⁸But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, ^jand more than a prophet. ¹⁰For this is he of whom it is written:

^k‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

¹¹“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ^12lAnd from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ^13mFor all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴And if you are willing to receive it, he is ⁿElijah who is to come. ^15oHe who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Rejection by Jesus’ Generation

Luke 7:31–35

^16p“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, ¹⁷and saying:

‘We played the flute for you,

And you did not dance;

We mourned to you,

And you did not ²lament.’

¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ³winebibber, ^qa friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ^rBut wisdom is justified by her ⁴children.”

Rejection of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum

Luke 10:12–15

^20sThen He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago ^tin sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I say to you, ^uit will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³And you, Capernaum, ^vwho ⁵are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴But I say to you ^wthat it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Invitation to Come to Jesus

^25xAt that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that ^yYou have hidden these things from the wise and prudent ^zand have revealed them to babes. ²⁶Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ^27aAll things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. ^bNor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ²⁸Come to ^cMe, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you ^dand learn from Me, for I am ⁶gentle and ^elowly in heart, ^fand you will find rest for your souls. ^30gFor My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”