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Bible Commentary on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Chapter 11 

God sometimes zigs when humans anticipate that he’ll zag. Descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel living during Jesus’ time were expecting a powerful messianic figure to emerge and rescue them from oppression. Imprisoned by Herod, John the Baptist sends messengers to ask Jesus: “Are you he who is to come?” Although Jesus responds in the affirmative, his answer is veiled. Jesus connects the miracles he’s been performing to Old Testament prophecy. In this way, Jesus subtly reveals that he’s indeed the long-awaited messianic king. He’s not at all the kind of king most people are expecting, however. In order to appreciate the full impact of who Jesus is and what he’s teaching, one must see him through a first-century lens. Those who practiced the religion of Judaism took upon themselves a heavy burden and assumed responsibility for keeping all 613 commands of the Torah, the Jewish religious law. In this sense, practicing Jews of Jesus’ day were “yoked to the Law.” Jesus asks his followers to take a yoke upon themselves as well, but Jesus’ law is a law of liberty. Jesus isn’t promising that life will be without difficulties—but he does assure his followers that they’ll find rest for their souls. 

The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Chapter 11 

Messengers from John the Baptist

1. And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”

Jesus Praises John the Baptist

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 Why then did you go out? To see a man dressed in soft robes? Behold, those who wear soft robes are in kings’ houses. 9 Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who shall prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates,
17 ‘We piped to you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Jesus Upbraids the Unrepentant Cities
20 Then he began to upbraid the cities where 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 done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
 

Jesus Thanks His Father

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Daily Lectio Divina Question for Today:

“What did you go out to behold?...Why did you go out?” (11:7, 8). Why are you reading these readings each day? What are you hoping to find in them? Lord, what do you want my “ears to hear” (11:15)?

Bible Commentary provided by Scott Hahn and Mark Shea, Gospel of Matthew, ed. Jennifer Phelps, Catholic Scripture Study (Charlotte, NC: Catholic Scripture Study International, 2007), 101.

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this. If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further