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Matthew Chapter
Eleven
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Yoke and Example of the King
II. He was called into question by John the
Baptist:
A. John the Baptist asked his disciples to ask the Lord (v.2-3).
B. The Lord’s answer to John the Baptist (v.4-6).
C. The Lord praised John the Baptist behind his back (v.7-15).
III. He was criticized and rejected:
A. He was overlooked by this world (v.16-17).
B. He was ridiculed and slandered by men (v.18-19).
C. He was rejected by the cities (v.20-24).
IV. The example and calling in the Sabbath:
A. He thanked the Father in the face of adversity (v.25).
B. He had rest for the good pleasure of the Father (v.26-27).
C. He called men to find rest (v.28-30).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 11:1 “Now it came to pass, when
Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to
teach and to preach in their cities.”
YLT: “And it came to
pass, when Jesus ended directing his twelve disciples, he departed thence to
teach and to preach in their cities.”
Literal Meaning: “when Jesus finished
commanding His twelve disciples.” Here it means the teachings said by the Lord
Jesus to His twelve disciples in chapter 10.
“He departed from there to teach and to
preach in their cities.” “Their cities” means every city and town in
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What the Lord asks His disciples to do is what
He does Himself. The Lord Jesus matches His words with His deeds. He acts
according to His words.
2) The Lord sets a good example with His own
conduct: He also does the things that He asks others to do.
3) After the Lord had sent His disciples out, even
not having a rest, He still departed from there to go forth faithfully. It
indicates that spiritual leaders do not lord it over their possessions, but are
models for the flock (1Pet. 5:3).
Matt. 11:2 “And when John had heard
in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples”
YLT: “And John having
heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent two of his disciples,”
Literal Meaning: “John in prison”
“John” is John the Baptist. He was put into prison because he spoke for God and
had condemned Herod the King that he should not have married the wife of his
brother (See Matt. 14:3-4).
“John had heard about the works of
Christ.” Here the works refer to many wonders and signs recorded in Matt.8 and
Matt. 9.
“He sent two of his disciples.” John the
Baptist formerly knew that Christ is the Son of God (John. 1:34). He has the
power to do signs and wonders and He had not done anything for John to deliver
him from the blockhouse. Therefore he sent his disciples to question the Lord
Jesus (See v.3).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men are easy to doubt when they are in
tribulations (“in prison”). Therefore when we are in danger or difficulty, we
should take care lest we are taken in the devil’s craftiness to doubt the will
of the Lord.
2) When in tribulations, we should learn to look
upon the Lord instead of the circumstances.
3) We should thank God whether He has done
something for us or not. The Lord has good will whether He has done something
or not.
Matt. 11:3 “and said to Him,
"Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"”
YLT: “said to him, `Art
thou He who is coming, or for another do we look?`”
Meaning of Words: “another”: another
man of a different kind.
Literal Meaning: “Are You the Coming
One?” John meant that “Are You the Messiah?” His words did not show his doubt
about the Lord his disappointment towards the Lord.
“Or do we look for another?” John used
these words to urge the Lord with derision, hoping that He would show His works
as the Messiah so as to lead the Jews to resist the Roman Empire and to revive
the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s natural patience is limited. After someone
has waited a long period of time, he will be impatient gradually and even
complain the Lord.
2) When John was in prison, he held that his
difficulty was so great and urgent that the Lord should lay down anything else
to solve his problem. Many workers of the Lord are not serving the Lord but
asking the Lord to serve them.
Matt. 11:4 “Jesus answered and said
to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:”
YLT: “And Jesus answering
said to them, `Having gone, declare to John the things that ye hear and see,”
Literal Meaning: when the Lord was
questioned and offended by John the Baptist, He did not regard him as
disobedient. Contrarily He further revealed Himself to John. “The things which
you hear” are the Lord’s teachings (words) and “the things which you see” are
the wonders (deeds) done by the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) John the Baptist formerly knew the Lord but he
was still weak. The Lord’s answer to him is about the knowledge of Himself (see
v.4-5). It shows that the more knowledge of the Lord is the deliverance to
those who are weak.
2) The effect of the Lord’s work cannot be measured
by sight and therefore we should follow the Lord by our inner knowledge of Him
instead of outer conditions.
3) “Hearing” is listed before “seeing” in this
verse and this shows that Christ’s teachings (the Lord’s words) are more
important than His conduct (signs). Hearing ten sentences of God’s words is
better than seeing ten signs. It is to put the incidental before the fundamental
for the extreme Charismatic to pay more attention to God’s signs than His
words.
4) One still needs to be revealed after he has
revelations. One still needs to see God’s appearance after he has seen God’s
appearance. The new revelation and appearance shall enable us to renew
strength. If there is no vision, there will be no power.
Matt. 11:5 “The blind see 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.”
YLT: “blind receive
sight, and lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear, dead are raised, and
poor have good news proclaimed,”
The
Background: in the time of the
Old Testament, nobody had seen the sign that “the blind see”. However, it is
predicted through the prophet Isaiah that when the Messiah comes, He would make
the eyes of the blind open (Is. 35:5).
Literal Meaning: the Lord used these
things that He had done as evidence to make John the Baptist know that He is
the Messiah.
Spiritual Meaning: various kinds of
people in this verse symbolize the different states of us before we were saved:
1) “The blind” symbolize those
whose thoughts have been blinded by the god of this world (2Cor. 4:4).
2) “The lame” symbolize those who
are unable to walk in the God’s commanded way (Acts. 3:2-9).
3) “The lepers” symbolize those
who are rebellious and unclean in God’s sight (Num. 12:1-10).
4) “The deaf” symbolize those who
could not hear the voice of God (Is. 29:18).
5) “The dead” symbolize those who
are dead in their offences and sins (Eph. 2:1).
6) “The poor” symbolize those who
have no hope and without God in the world (Eph 2:12).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “The blind see” is the first step of salvation.
The Lord firstly opened our eyes and we may turn from darkness to light (Acts.
26:18).
2) The Lord opens our eyes, strengthens our feet to
walk in the Lord’s way (Heb. 12:12-13), leads captive our formerly rebellious
to Him (2Kings. 5:9-14), makes us hear the Lord’s voice (John. 10:27), know the
power of His resurrection (Pill. 3:10) and enjoy the unsearchable riches of
Christ (Eph. 3:8).
Matt. 11:6 “And blessed is he who is
not offended because of Me.’”
YLT: “and happy is he who
may not be stumbled in me.’”
Meaning of Words: “offended”: take
offence, dislike, and stumble.
Literal Meaning: the Lord here
implies that John the Baptist may be offended because of Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The name of the Lord is “a stone of stumbling
and rock of offence” (Rom. 9:33). If believers do not have enough knowledge of
the Lord, they will probably be offended because of Him.
2) We should pray to the Lord for increasing
knowledge of Him and we may not be offended because of Him.
3) John the Baptist blamed the Lord because he was
unsatisfied with what the Lord had done. Anyone who is unpleasant with what the
Lord had done is easy to be offended.
4) We should never study the Bible with our own
concepts. We may be offended because of Him when the works and deeds of the
Lord Jesus recorded in the Bible are not in agreement with what we except.
5) Let him that thinks that he stands take heed
lest he fall (1Cor. 10:12).
6) Blessed is the one who willingly receives the
circumstances and ways arranged by the Lord without any complaint.
7) When in tribulations, we should learn to look
upon the Lord instead of the circumstance, and then we are able to praise the
Lord without dissatisfaction or complaints.
8) When we learn not to blame the Lord, our
mourning will be turned into joy and tears will be turned into mirth.
9) Revelation and trial are relative. The
revelation given by God to John the Baptist is great and so is his trial. Great
trial will bring in great revelation.
10) The Lord’s appearance is the power to
strengthen us. Only those who see the Lord Jesus in spirit will not be
offended.
Matt. 11:7 “As they departed, Jesus
began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into
the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?”
YLT: “And as they are
going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, `What went ye out
to the wilderness to view? a reed shaken by the wind?”
Meaning of Words: “see”: look closely
at.
The
Background: When John the
Baptist started to preach, he was in “the wilderness” of Judah (Matt. 3:1). At
that time, all Judean went “out” to John (Matt. 3:5).
Literal Meaning: “as they departed,
Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John.” The Lord encouraged him
in the face of the disciples of John (see v.4-6) and praised him behind their
back (see v.7-15).
“What did you go out into the wilderness
to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” It means that men wouldn’t see common
things specially.
Spiritual Meaning: “reed” is easy to be
broken (Matt. 12:20) and it symbolizes fragile men (1Kings. 14:15). The Lord
meant in this verse that when John, the forerunner of Christ, was preaching in
the wilderness, he was not weak.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A natural man likes to praise others in the face
of them and speak ill of others behind their back. However the example of the
Lord is just the other way.
2) Open rebuke is better than hidden love (Prov.
27:5). We should praise others behind their back lest they feel proud.
3) John the Baptist bore witness to Christ before
men (Matt. 3:11-12) and the Lord Jesus bore witness to him in this place. Every
one who bears witness to Christ before men will be testified by the Lord before
men (See Matt. 10:32).
4) The state of John the Baptist that moment was
like “a reed shaken by the wind”. However the Lord is merciful and He shall not
break a bruised reed or quench the smoking flax (Matt. 12:20).
Matt. 11:8 “But what did you go out
to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing
are in kings' houses.”
YLT: “`But what went ye
out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things
are in the kings` houses.”
Meaning of Words: “see”: be aware, by
implication to know, and perceive (different from the “see” in v.7).
Literal Meaning: “in soft garments”:
panoply in the palace.
Spiritual Meaning: “a man clothed in
soft garments” symbolizes the man who takes forethought for the flesh (Rom.
13:14). The Lord here meant that you should not hold John as a man who seeks
ease.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Common people like to know others according to
flesh ------ utterance, knowledge, wearing, making up and etc instead of their
hearts (See 1Sam. 16:7).
2) A worker of the Lord should be strong (see v.7)
and should not enjoy high position or live in ease and comfort.
Matt. 11:9 “But what did you go out
to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.”
YLT: “`But what went ye
out to see? a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,”
Meaning of Words: “see”: be aware, by
implication to know, and perceive (different from the “see” in v.7).
Literal Meaning: “prophet” is the one
who speaks for God.
John the Baptist not only spoke for the
Lord, but also introduced Christ to men. Therefore he is more than a prophet.
Moreover, John was the landmark of transitional times------a person from the
time of the prophets (the law) to the time of grace------therefore “he is more
than a prophet”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord instead of a man judges whether someone
is great or not.
2) Personal experience of Christ (John the Baptist)
is more useful than talking about Christ who has not been seen or touched (a
prophet).
Matt. 11:10 “For this is he of whom it
is written: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will
prepare Your way before You.'”
YLT: “for this is he of
whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who
shall prepare thy way before thee.”
Literal Meaning: “it is written”: it
is quoted from Mal. 3:1
“I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.” This sentence shows that the ministry of
John the Baptist is to prepare way for the King and prepare men’s hearts to
receive Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When John the Baptist was weak temporarily, on
one side the Lord further revealed Himself to encourage him (v.4-6) and on the
other He bore strong witness to him before men (v.7-11). It shows that:
a) The Lord never hit
a person when he is down. It is not the spirit of Christ to flatter someone
when he is strong and to condemn someone when he is weak.
b) The Lord is able to
sympathize with our infirmities (Heb. 4:15) and He never forgets men’s
faithfulness towards Him.
c) The Lord purposely
bore strong witness to His servant in order to stop men’s excessive criticism
to him when he was weak.
2) We should learn to fear God and do not judge the
Lord’s servants, especially when they are weak. It is this principle for David
not dare to offend Saul.
3) The primary task for the Lord’s servants is to
prepare way for the Lord. Any work that could not let the Lord have more way to
work in men’s hearts is not serving the Lord.
Matt. 11:11
“‘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.”
YLT: “Verily I say to
you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the
Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.”
Meaning of Words: “least”: little one.
Literal Meaning: “among those born of
women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.” Here the
so-called greatness is not measured by the highness of status or the greatness
of ministry, but the closeness of relation between men and Christ. Those who
were born of women, such as Abraham, Moses, Elias and other great men, only had
seen Christ “from afar off” (Heb. 11:13). However John the Baptist saw Christ
with his eyes. Therefore he is greater than them.
“But he who is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he.” “Who is least in the kingdom of heaven” are common
believers and Christ dwells in them (Col. 1:27). However John the Baptist only
knew Christ in the flesh. Therefore believers are greater than he. Moreover,
the least believer in the New Testament is a portion of the assembly, i.e. a
portion of the bride of Christ (see Eph. 5:25-27, 32). John the Baptist was
only a friend of the bridegroom (John. 3:29). Therefore believers are greater
than John the Baptist from this angle.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Whether one is great or not depends on his
relation with Christ. The closer one is to Christ, the greater he is.
2) Any one who is born of water and of Spirit can
enter into the
Matt. 11:12 “And from the days of John
the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent
take it by force.”
YLT: “`And, from the days
of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence,
and violent men do take it by force,”
Meaning of Words: “violence”: to
force, to crowd oneself into, and do one’s utmost; “suffers violence” is a word
in original and it means to force; “take”: seize.
The
Background: When the Lord’s
forerunner John the Baptist and the Lord Himself started to work to preach the
glad tidings of the kingdom of heaven, the Pharisees opposed them everywhere
and barred men from entering into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore only those
who dash ahead regardless of their own safety and take it by force are able to
enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Literal Meaning: this verse tells us
the opportunities and requirements to take the kingdom of heaven by force:
1) The kingdom of heaven could be
taken by force and experienced “today” instead of in future.
2) One should take the kingdom of
heaven by violence. This means that we should be willing to pay any price or
sacrifice, even to stake our necks for the sake of the kingdom of heaven (
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is the free grace for one’s being saved. However
the one who wants to enter the kingdom of heaven should “suffer violence”.
After we have been saved, if we do not pursue the kingdom, we will not receive
the reward of the kingdom.
2) One has to suffer violence to enter the kingdom
of heaven and therefore we should “run” instead of “walk” (See 1Cor. 9:24, 26,
Pill. 3:13-14, 2Tim. 4:7). Draw me, we will run after thee (Songs. 1:4).
3) Through many tribulations we must enter into the
4) The Lord’s words imply that if men want to enter
into the kingdom of heaven, they will be confronted with various kinds of
obstructions, including the concepts of religious regulations, political
persecutions, the deep-rooted bad habits of loving ease and hating work, one’s
discouragement and lacking of ambitions and etc. Therefore only the violent and
reckless ones are able to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
5) We should pay any price to let Christ reign in
us. In this way we are living in the reality of the kingdom of heaven.
6) Entering into the kingdom of heaven is the thing
that we have to do “now” and we should not wait until the Lord comes back for
the second time or the time when we depart from this world to meet the Lord.
7) The opposite side of “violent” is common. We do
not need to be offended, commit sins or love the world purposely, if we are
only common Christians who muddle along, we will be unable to enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 11:13 “For all the prophets and
the law prophesied until John.”
YLT: “for all the
prophets and the law till John did prophesy,”
Literal Meaning: “all the prophets”
spoke for God and prophesied the coming Christ. “The law” is the type of
Christ. John the Baptist haven’t prophesied and he showed Christ to men (see
John. 1:29). Therefore all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
This verse shows that the revelations
and prophesies about Christ in the time of the Old Testament came to a
conclusion until John the Baptist. Now the body has come (Cor. 2:17) and the
new time has began.
Matt. 11:14 “And if you are willing to
receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.”
YLT: “and if ye are
willing to receive [it], he is Elijah who was about to come;”
Literal Meaning: Elijah was the
greatest prophet in the time of the Old Testament. It is prophesied in the
Bible that he would come again (Mal. 4:5). His real coming will be fulfilled in
the great Tribulation (Rev. 11:3-12).
In this verse it means that Elijah is
the one that comes to lead the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God has prepared grace for men and what matters
is that whether men are willing to receive it. To those who are willing to
receive, objective knowledge will turn into their personal experience.
2) What the Lord values is men’s spirit. John the
Baptist has the Spirit of Elijah (Luke. 1:17) and the Lord saw him as Elijah.
If we have the spirit of Paul the Apostle (2Cor. 5:9), we are the Paul in the
present age.
Matt. 11:15 “He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!”
YLT: “he who is having
ears to hear let him hear.”
Literal Meaning: this verse shows
that the Lord’s words concerning John the Baptist are also said to us. We
should have spiritual ear to hear the words of the Lord (see Rev. 2:7, 11, 17,
29, 3: 6, 13, 22).
Matt. 11:16 “‘But
to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the
marketplaces and calling to their companions,”
YLT: “`And to what shall
I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting
and calling to their comrades,”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The days are evil and easily make men foolish
(Eph. 5:16-17), ignorant like children and insensitive to the Lord and the
things that are of the Lord
2) We should not be children in minds but be grown
(1Cor. 14:20).
Matt. 11:17 “and saying: "We
played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did
not lament.'”
YLT: “and saying, We
piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite
the breast.”
Literal Meaning: “playing the flute”
is like what men do in the wedding; “mourning” is like what men do in the
funeral. The Lord meant that people of this world are as stubborn as children
who neither play the game of wedding (playing the flute and dancing) nor play
in the procession of funeral (mourning and lamentations).
The Lord is merciful to the sinners who
sat down with Him (See Matt. 9:10-13). It is like “playing the flute” to men.
John the Baptist condemned men’s sins bluntly and asked men to repent (See
Matt. 3:7-12). It is like “mourning” to men.
Spiritual Meaning: “we played the flute
for you, and you did not dance.” It is a metaphor to show that when we preach
the glad tidings of God’s grace to the world, men are untouched.
“We mourned to you, and you did not
lament.” It is a metaphor to show that when we preach warning news of God’s
righteous judgment, men are unwilling to repent.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Rejoice with those that rejoice, weep with those
that weep. Have the same respect one for another (Rom. 12:15-16).
2) Not dancing when others play the flute or
lamenting when others mourn show that the
3) Believers should have the spirit of meekness. On
one side we should rejoice in God and everything that is of God (Luke. 1:47).
On the other we should mourn in everything that is besides God (Matt. 5:4).
Matt. 11:18 “For John came neither
eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.'”
YLT: “`For John came
neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon;”
Literal Meaning: “neither eating nor
drinking.” It did not mean that he did not eat or drink at all. It meant that
he did not eat or drink like the ordinary person (See Matt. 3:4).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When the Lord was busy serving the folk and
cannot even eat bread, men said that He was out of His mind (Mark. 3:20-21).
When believers hold heavy burdens in spirit so that they cannot eat or drink as
usual (fasting), they are treated as strangers by others.
2) Christians are
not ascetic. It is not their purpose for not to eat or drink, or not get along
with the world. To everything that may draw us into the world, we should choose
what we should choose and reject what we should reject regardless of others’
criticism.
Matt. 11:19 “The Son of Man came
eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a
winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by
her children.’”
YLT: “the Son of Man came
eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man, a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a
friend of tax-gatherers and sinners, and wisdom was justified of her children.’”
Literal Meaning: “the Son of Man came
eating and drinking.” “The Son of Man” is the Lord Jesus (Matt. 16:13). “Eating
and drinking” shows that His food and drink is like that of ordinary men.
“But wisdom is justified by her
children.” It shows that though John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus had
different ways of life, they were all right according to the results of
conducts of their wisdom.
Spiritual Meaning: “but wisdom is
justified by her children.” “Wisdom” is Christ (1Cor. 1:24, 30); “Her children”
are those who fear God (See Prov. 9:10). Those who fear God do not judge by
appearance but look upon Christ in everything and hold His guidance as
foundation.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) John did not eat or drink and the Lord did eat
and drink. They did not condemn each other for their contrary states. We should
permit others to have absolute freedom in life styles. It is the most foolish
to condemn and interfere what is different from us.
2) From the eyes of the Jews, “neither eating nor
drinking” and “eating and drinking” are both wrong. When men have their own
opinions, they are unable to accept others’ behaviors and it is wrong in their
eyes no matter how others act.
3) Christianity is not “neither eating nor
drinking” nor “eating and drinking”. What Christianity values is not men’s
outer ways but their inner intentions.
4) For the
5) “Wisdom is justified by her children.” Those who
hold fast Christ is the wisest ones.
6) Only those who have spiritual sights and truly
fear God can know the Lord’s deeds.
7) Wisdom is justified by those that are of Christ
and seek for Christ. The salvation arranged by God is justified by those who
receive the Lord.
8) What believers should do their utmost to seek is
the Lord Himself instead of ways, teachings, reasons or experience. It is not
the Lord’s grace but the Lord who gives grace.
Matt. 11:20 “Then He began to rebuke
the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did
not repent:”
YLT: “Then began he to
reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they
did not reform.”
Literal Meaning: “in which most of
His mighty works had been done.” The Lord Jesus not only preached the glad
tidings, but also marked out Himself Son of God in power (
Spiritual Meaning: “they did not
repent.” “Cities” symbolize organizations of the world. Those who are of this
world are determined to reject the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those that have blind faith in Charismatic in
Christianity today, hoping to conquer men’s hearts by doing mighty works,
should receive instruction from this verse.
2) There is a period to do mighty works to preach
the glad tidings and the period should not be long. If men do not repent, there
will be rebuke after that.
Matt. 11:21 “‘Woe
to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,
YLT: “`Wo to thee,
Chorazin! wo to thee,
Meaning of Words: “Chorazin”: secret;
“
The
Background: “Woe to you,
Chorazin! Woe to you,
“For if the mighty works had been done
in
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Woe to the proud ones who think that only they
in the world know the secret (meaning of “Chorazin”) and others know nothing of
it.
2) Woe to this kind of people who can do everything
but reject the Lord: they are good at preaching the glad tidings------“fishing”
(the meaning of “
3) Those who “have repented in sackcloth and ashes”
will not fall into judgment. Without repentance, it is impossible for men to be
delivered from God’s judgment.
Matt. 11:22 “But I say to you, it will
be more tolerable for
YLT: “but I say to you,
to
Literal Meaning: “the day of
judgment”: the day to face God’s judgment in doomsday.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) This verse shows that the judgment in future is
not the same. There is the degree of seriousness concerning the judgments.
2) The consequence of the judgment in future is
related to what we have received from the Lord today. Everyone to whom much is
given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of
him they will ask the more (Luke. 12:48).
Matt. 11:23 “And you, Capernaum, who
are 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.”
YLT: “`And thou,
Meaning of Words: “
Literal Meaning:
“You, who are exalted to heaven, will be
brought down to Hades.” “Hades” was in the heart of the earth (See Matt. 12:40)
and it was the temporary place for souls after men were dead (See Acts. 2:27,
Luke. 16:22-23). The whole sentence shows that it has been brought down to the
lowest status of punishment from the supreme status of honor (See Is. 14:13,
15).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) To those who have received “comfort” (the
meaning of “Capernaum”) by repentance and then thought something of themselves
today, though they are exalted to heaven, they will be brought down to Hades.
2) Many first shall be last, and last first (Matt.
19:30, 20:16).
Matt. 11:24 “But I say to you that it
shall be more tolerable for the
YLT: “but I say to you,
to the
The
Background: “
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In the day of judgment, the degrees of
punishment depend on our reaction towards the Lord.
2) If those who had tasted the heavenly gift have
fallen away, their end will be worse than those who do not know the Lord (Heb.
6:4-8).
Matt. 11:25 “At that time Jesus
answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them
to babes.”
YLT: “At that time Jesus
answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the
earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and
didst reveal them to babes.”
Literal Meaning: “at that time” is
the time when the Lord was misunderstood, despised, slandered and rejected.
“Jesus answered and said.” It shows that the words from v.25 to v.27 are His
inner reaction towards the circumstances from v.20 to v.24.
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and
earth.” “Father” shows that God is the fountainhead of everything. “Lord of
heaven and earth” shows that God rules and arranges everything. When the Lord
was in spiritless conditions, He knew that everything that happened to Him is
of God the Father (Rom. 8:28). “I thank You” shows that the Lord not only
receives the arrangement from God’s hands, but also receives it with
thanksgiving.
“You have hidden these things from the
wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” It shows the principle by
which God works. Though God is pleased to reveal Christ in men (Gal. 1:16), if
a man, wise and prudent in his own eyes, wants to understand spiritual things
by intelligence, contrarily he will not receive revelations. Only those who are
simple and open their hearts to God like babes will receive the full
revelations.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If one knows that Father is the “Lord of heaven
and earth”------everything is under His mighty hands, he will rest and be
thankful in everything.
2) Though we have received the circumstances and
things arranged by God many times, we receive them unwillingly and there are
complaints in our hearts. Therefore we are unable to have rest like the
Lord.
3) If we could see persons, things and circumstance
that we are encountered with from the principle by which God works, we will
have unconventional state and still have rest in many troubles.
4) Christians’ misfortune, circumstances and things
are God’s will. If we could receive everything as if receiving it from God’s
hands, we will not complain at all.
5) The most successful time of the cross’s works in
us is the moment that God’s arrangement is different from our own opinion. If
we are willing to submit to God at that time, the cross will be truly working.
6) God’s works in us are related to our intentions
and attitudes. The more our intentions are like babes, the more grace we will
receive from God.
7) The humble ones who are willing to be instructed
usually receive God’s revelations (1Pet. 5:5).
8) Whoever knows the way that God does His work in
his own eyes (“the wise and prudent”) does not know the will of God on the
contrary. Whoever does not know anything in his own eyes (“babes”) is easy to
know God’s will on the contrary.
9) The reason why one could not read the Bible very
well is not that his brain is not good. It is that his brain is so good that he
wants to use his own “wisdom and prudence” to read the Bible. Consequently, he
loses the attitude as “a babe” and God has hidden Himself from him.
10) Though the Lord said serious words from v.20 to
v.24, He is full of thanksgiving and peace in Him. If we do not have the same
intentions as the Lord in us, we are unworthy to say serious words to others.
Matt. 11:26 “Even so, Father, for so
it seemed good in Your sight.”
YLT: “Yes, Father,
because so it was good pleasure before Thee.”
Meaning
of Words: “good”: well-pleasing, goodliness, and wish.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Even so, Father.” It is the spirit of the Son
and it is the attitude the Son should have. We should say “yes”------amen to
everything that is of the Father.
2) We should seek God’s delight instead of our own
delight in everything.
3) We should say “yes”, i.e. “amen” to everything
in which God delights. In this way, we are still able to have rest even in
adversity.
4) What seems good in Father’s sight is that: we
should attain glory through tribulations, we should reach the throne through
cross, we should overcome through failures and we should achieve spiritual peak
through the losses of souls.
5) What
God really requires from His servant is not the effect of his work, but whether
he has the intention to do the will of God.
Matt. 11:27 “All things have been
delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor
does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills
to reveal Him.”
YLT: “`All things were
delivered to me by my Father, and none doth know the Son, except the Father,
nor doth any know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish
to reveal [Him].”
Meaning of Words: “knows”: recognize
(knowledge through subjective experience); “wills”: counsel; “reveal”: take off
the cover, disclose.
Literal Meaning: “all things have
been delivered to Me by My Father.” It has two meanings:
1) All my misfortune and “possessions” are from God
instead of men. Therefore there is no need for us to complain others.
2) Since everything is from God, it seems good in
His sight and therefore we should receive everything willingly.
“No one knows the Son except the Father.” It is
just that men do not know the Lord because only Father and those who have been
revealed by the Father know Him. It implies that: even if men do not know or
understand me, I am satisfied and able to have rest only if the Father knows
me.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “All things have been delivered to Me by My
Father.” It shows that:
a) The Lord submits to all the arrangements of the Father.
b) The Lord will inherit all the things of the Father ultimately.
What happens to the firstborn will happen to the sons of God. Anyone who
submits to all the arrangements of the Father with the Lord will ultimately
inherit all things with Him.
2) “Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son,
and the one to whom the Son will sot reveal Him.” Only those who have been
revealed by the Father know the Son (See John. 16:17). Only those who have been
revealed by the Son know the Father. The knowledge of the Divine Trinity must
be of revelations.
3) Only those who have rest in being merely known
by God are able to know God. Only those who know God are able to lead men to
know God (John. 17:25-26).
Matt. 11:28 “Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
YLT: “`Come unto me, all
ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest,”
Meaning of Words: “labor”: feel
fatigue, to work hard; “who are heavy laden”: overburdened; “rest”: refresh.
Literal Meaning: “all you who labor
and are heavy laden” It is the real condition of the world: they not only have
the “labor” of life (Gen. 3:17) but also the burdens of sins.
To believers, we suffer pain when
struggling with sin (Rom. 7:24), laboring for the works of the Lord (Col.
1:28-29), and having every weight (Heb. 12:1).
“I will give you rest.” It is “I will
rest you” in original.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If one wants to have the Lord’s rest, he has to
know that he is the one “who labors and is heavy laden.”
2) Only those who come to the Lord will truly have
rest. Moreover, the most important thing is that we have to come to the Lord
with hearts.
3) “Coming” is our duty and except this we could do
nothing. All are done by the Lord.
Matt. 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls.”
YLT: “take up my yoke
upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye
shall find rest to your souls,”
Meaning of Words: “gentle”: meek;
“lowly”: humble, low degree, base; “take”: take up, carry; “yoke”: balance,
shackle.
Literal Meaning: “I am gentle and
lowly.” “Gentle” means soft. One is not willing to resist or reject others’
opposition and affray. “Lowly” means humble but not proud. One does not plan
for himself or desire something for himself. He is indignant at others’
contempt and rejection.
“Take My yoke upon you.” “Taking My
yoke” is to take the yoke with the Lord. Every burden measured by God to us is
the yoke of the Lord. Every burden of men is not the yoke of the Lord.
“Learn from Me.” “The Lord’s example” is
the Lord’s attitude towards “yoke”. He is willing to give up His own rights and
receive various kinds of limits for the sake of the will of God.
“You will find rest for your souls.”
Here the rest is in the souls instead of in the outside circumstances. Though
the outside circumstances keep the same, the state in one’s soul is totally
different.
Verse 28 pays attention to having rest
by being delivered from the labor and burdens of sins and verse 29 lays stress
on finding rest by being delivered from the disobedient “self” towards God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “I am gentle and lowly in heart.” It is the
reason why the Lord finds rest and it is also the condition that we may find
rest.
2) Those that fully submit to the will of God, do
nothing for themselves and do not hope to gain something for themselves will
have true rest in their souls.
3) “Taking my yoke upon you” is obeying and serving
the Lord. If we obey and receive all the commissions, works and services from
the Lord willingly, we will “find rest for our souls”.
4) If we want to yoke with the Lord, we have to
adjust our steps and pace to ape the Lord at every step and with the same pace.
5) The true rest is the quietness and confidence in
one’s heart. It has nothing with the objective circumstances and it could not
be affected by outside world.
Matt. 11:30 “For My yoke is easy and
My burden is light.’”
YLT: “for my yoke [is]
easy, and my burden is light.’”
Meaning of Words: “easy”: pleasant,
kind, useful;
The
Background: men in the
Literal
Meaning: “My yoke is easy and
My burden is light” because we yoke with the Lord who Himself shoulders most of
the heavy burden and also gives us sufficient grace (2Cor. 12:9), letting us
not feel the hardship of the yoke.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” If we
feel that the burden is heavy, probably the burden is not of the Lord because
the Lord will not bind burdens heavy and hard on our shoulders to bear (See
Matt. 23:4).
2) The Lord’s example is restful, the Lord’s yoke
is easy, the Lord’s burden is light. If we do not feel His example restful, His
yoke easy, or His burden light, probably these are not of the Lord.
3) If we are united to the Lord and communicate
with the Lord, everything will turn to be easy and light.
4) When we fully obey God in deed, we will feel
that it is not difficult. What is difficult is that our hearts haven’t fully
submitted to God.
5) When you feel that you are taking the cross, you
will think that the cross is very heavy. When you crucify yourselves on the
cross and let the cross take you, you will feel that the cross is vey light.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Example of the
Lord of Preaching
I. He moved others by teachings (v.1-6).
II. He moved others by testimonies (v.7-15).
III. He moved others by rebuke (v.16-24).
IV. He moved others by gracious words
(v.25-30).
The King’s Rest
A. He was misunderstood by His forerunner
(v.2-3).
B. He was despised by the world (v.16-17).
C. He was ridiculed and slandered by men
(v.18-19).
D. He was rejected by the cities (v.20-24).
II. The example of the king’s rest:
A. He set a good example with His own
conduct (v.1).
B. He encouraged the weak (v.4-6).
C. He praised the person after his face
(v.7-15).
III. The secret of the king’s rest:
A. In everything give thanks (v.25).
B. Obey the will of God (v.26-27).
IV. The king calls men to have rest:
A. Those who find rest (v.28):
1. They have the need of
rest.
2. They should “come”.
B. The way to find rest (v.29):
1.
One should “take my yoke”------“my yoke is easy and my burden is light”.
2.
One should learn from Him------“He is gentle and lowly in heart”.
The Power Citizens
of the
II. The power to be eager to achieve the
goal directly (“suffering violence”) (v.12).
III. The power of spiritual discernment
(“wisdom is justified by her children”) (v.19).
IV. The power to do the will of God (“so it
seemed good in Your sight”) (v.25-27).
V. The power to “find rest” in toilsome
service (v.28-30).
The reason of the
Lord’s rest in adversities
A. All the circumstances are under the
control of God because He is the “Lord of heaven and earth”.
B. All the circumstances are for our profit
(See Heb. 12:10) because He is the kind “Father”.
C. Thank Him because of His grace.
II. “You have hidden these things from the
wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes” (v.25b).
A. These things happen according to the
principle by which God works.
B. The reason why men treat me unfairly is
that they do not know the will of God.
III. “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good
in Your sight.” (v.26).
A. Father is always “Yes” and His will is
always “good”.
B. Therefore we should say “Yes”------“Amen”
to all the circumstances arranged by the Father.
IV. “All things have been delivered to Me by
My Father.” (v.27a).
A. What we are confronted
with and the things we receive are from the Father instead of men.
B. None of these things may
happen to us without the permission of the Father.
V. “No one knows the Son except the Father.
Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son
wills to reveal Him.” (v.27b).
A. I am satisfied only if
Father knows me even if men do not know or understand me.
B. The reason why men do not
know or understand me is that they do not know Father.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren