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Matthew 11

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.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

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.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

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?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

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.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

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.

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

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.

But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

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.

But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

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.

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

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.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What does Matthew 11:26 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 11:26, within the King James Version of the Bible, is attributed to Jesus speaking in the midst of a discourse about the revelation of truth.

The verse reads, "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." In this passage, the term "Father" is a reference to God, and the overall sentiment reflects an acceptance and affirmation of God’s will and wisdom.

Here, Jesus acknowledges the divine prerogative and expresses his trust and satisfaction with whatever God deems appropriate.

The statement reveals a belief in the benevolence and righteousness of God’s choices, suggesting that what God finds pleasing or fitting is inherently good and right.

The deeper meaning implies a submission to God’s will, suggesting that humans may not always understand or agree with divine decisions, but should trust in the inherent goodness of God’s plan.

It emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the idea that his understanding and vision surpass human comprehension.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

These texts are believed to record the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Matthew is traditionally thought to have been written by one of Jesus’ apostles, Matthew the tax collector, although modern scholarship often disputes this authorship and dates the Gospel to the late first century CE.

At the time of this passage, Jesus had been preaching in various cities and towns, performing miracles, and proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The specific context involves Jesus’ response to unbelief and misunderstanding about his mission and the nature of John the Baptist’s role as the forerunner.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Matthew 11:26 is often seen as an expression of divine providence and the mystery of God's will. Throughout Christian history, theologians have grappled with the question of why certain things occur in the world and how God's will is discerned and realized.

Some Christian theologies embrace the concept of free will, suggesting that humans have the ability to make choices independent of God’s predetermined plan. Others, such as those in the Calvinist tradition, emphasize predestination and God's sovereign choice in all matters.

This verse could be interpreted as supporting the latter viewpoint, indicating Jesus’ acceptance of and content with God’s supreme decision-making process.

Practical Applications

In practical application, Matthew 11:26 can be seen as a guide for believers to adopt an attitude of trust and surrender to God’s will. It can be applied in various life situations where uncertainty or adversity is faced.

The verse encourages faithfulness and a relinquishment of personal control in favor of trusting God's wisdom and plan.

It could be particularly relevant in times of disappointment or when outcomes diverge from one’s prayers or expectations, prompting believers to find peace in the idea that what transpires is ultimately 'good in God's sight' and a part of a greater plan.

Cross-References

Luke 10:21: "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."
Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text of Matthew 11:26 is "Ναί, ὁ Πατήρ, ὅτι οὕτως εὐδοκία ἐγένετο ἔμπροσθέν σου." The word "εὐδοκία" (eudokia) conveys the sense of good pleasure, satisfaction, or a favorable disposition. "ἐγένετο" (egeneto) comes from the root "γίνομαι" (ginomai), meaning to become or happen.

Therefore, a literal translation could be "Yes, Father, because this has become pleasing in your sight."

The language reflects a formal acknowledgment ("Ναί", Yes) of God's ("ὁ Πατήρ", the Father) satisfaction or pleasure ("εὐδοκία") with the way things have come to pass ("ἔμπροσθέν σου", before you).

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this verse to other ancient religious systems, we might look at the concept of divine will across different cultures.

For instance, in ancient Greek mythology, the Moirai or Fates were believed to control the destiny of humans and gods alike, with a degree of inevitability and acceptance required from mortals.

Within Judaism, there is strong emphasis on following God's will as revealed through Torah, but there is also a tradition of wrestling and debating with God's decisions, evident in the stories of figures like Abraham and Moses.

This contrasts with the more submissive tone Jesus displays in Matthew 11:26.

Scientific Perspectives

There isn’t a direct intersection between this verse and scientific understandings, as the content of Matthew 11:26 deals more with theological themes of faith and divine will rather than empirical observations.

However, in the broader conversation between science and religion, this verse might be discussed in terms of the human tendency to look for meaning and order in life events, which is a psychological trait studied in various scientific fields, including psychology and neuroscience.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 11:26 offer a range of viewpoints.

John Calvin, for example, viewed this passage as reflecting the hidden and mysterious will of God, which should be embraced regardless of human understanding.

Other biblical scholars such as William Barclay have noted the verse as a profound recognition of the wisdom and sovereignty of God, and of Jesus’ role in accepting and declaring God's will.

Contemporary scholars often see this verse as emphasizing the inscrutability of God's choices and the importance of faith.

They sometimes use it to discuss the concept of 'divine economy,' where God's actions and plans are understood to be purposeful and working toward a final good, even when they are beyond human understanding.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 11:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?