Matthew 11: Woe to the Unrepentant and Rest for the Weary

Matthew 11: Woe to the Unrepentant and Rest for the Weary

Collin Leong. April 8, 2025

 v1-19:  Jesus and John the Baptist

(v1-3)  After sending the twelve out, Jesus continued to preach in the towns of Galilee. When John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about Jesus' deeds, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He is the messiah or whether there's someone else. 

(v4-5)  Jesus asked his disciples to tell John what they heard and saw - where the blind can see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the leprosy cleaned, the dead are raised and good news in proclaimed to the poor.  

Isn't it strange that John was questioning whether Jesus is the messiah? Didn't he already knew who Jesus was, when he was baptizing Him? He said in Matt 3:11 - "But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  I believe John also saw the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus, and God said "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matt 3:17)

I believe John was at his lowest level now, when he was imprisoned by Herod Antipas. He had confronted Herod about his unlawful marriage to Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, which was against Jewish law (Matt 14:3-14; Mark 6:17-18). Furthermore, Jesus' "deeds" are not the expected things the Jews believe the messiah was going to do. The Messiah was expected to be a conquering warrior, but instead, He was focused on healing, teaching, and serving. Like many Jews, they have missed the part where Jesus is more concerned about the spiritual condition of men at that time. 

Jesus was trying to show John, that deeds he is doing fulfills the messianic prophecies, as seen in Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1.

Some of us are like John, susceptible to doubts when life turns out differently that we thought; or when God did not do what we expect, though we sincerely prayed for it. But very often, we are just not in tuned with God on his bigger picture. It reminds me of Isaiah 55:8-9, which says:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

It may be difficult to understand what God is doing, but we need to trust him that He will bring something good to the human kind. 

(v6) Jesus told John's disciples: "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."   He's telling them that just because He did not do what they expect, it should not "stumble" them to believe He is the Messiah. It reassures believers that those who maintain faith in Him, without allowing doubts or preconceived ideas to cause them to waver, are blessed.

(v7-11)  As John's disciples left, He told the crowd about who John was. He asked them that when they went to the wilderness, what they expect to see? Certainly not to see the reeds? Or are they looking for a man dressed in fine clothes? Of course not, people like that is found in palaces! (Was Jesus doing something humorous here?)

Finally, Jesus told them they were there to see a prophet, and he is the one prophesied by Malachi: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’(Malachi 3:1)

He said that it had never risen of anyone who is greater than John; yet, the least of those in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 

(v12-13) Then Jesus told them that the time since John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and "violent people have been raiding it."  I believe this referred to the resistance and violence that people had objected the Kingdom. This could refer to both the Jews who disobeyed the Old Testament, and the gentile nations that hated God and killed the faithful Jews. 

This resistance had been told and prophesied by the Prophets and the Law, until John. John will be the last prophet of the Old Testament. From now on, Jesus will bring in the New Testament, where there is no more need for animal sacrifice, because Jesus will be one and only sacrifice for mankind. 

(v14) Jesus added, that if they are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was to come. Jesus was referring to the prophecy of Malachi 4:5-6: “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Some people considered Elijah as the prophet who will come during the tribulation. He will be one of the "two witnesses" mentioned in Revelation 11:3-13. Jesus is not saying that John is Elijah, but he came as if he is "the future Elijah" to call people to repentance and preparing people's hearts for Jesus. 

This theory is supported based on angel Gabriel words to Zechariah (John's father): "And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)

(v16-17) Jesus told crowd that their generation is like children sitting in the marketplace, calling out to others: " ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’" 

The imagery of children in the marketplace symbolizes the people's stubbornness and unresponsiveness. The "pipe" and "dancing" represent joyful celebrations, while the "dirge" and "mourning" represent times of sorrow. The people, however, rejected both the ministry of John the Baptist, who came with a serious, ascetic approach, and the ministry of Jesus, who came with a more gracious and joyful approach.

John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say 'He has a demon''; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Here is a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collector and sinners."  

(v18-19) Then Jesus concluded: "Wisdom is proved right by her deeds."   End of the day, Jesus is emphasizing that wisdom, or God's divine truth, will be proven through actions and results. The fruit of their ministries—the repentance brought by John's preaching and the transformation brought by Jesus' message of grace—vindicates the wisdom behind their methods.

v20-24: Woe on Unrepentant Towns (Luke 10:13-16)

(v20-22) Then Jesus named the towns that did not repent, though they have seen His miracles. He said woe to Chorazin and Bethsaida. He said if Tyre and Sidon seen His miracles, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes, and that their judgement day will more bearable than the two towns. 

Tyre and Sidon, ancient cities on the Phoenician coast, located along the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It primarily included parts of present-day Lebanon and northern Israel, stretching from the city of Tyre in the south to Arwad in the north. 

They are mentioned in the Bible as facing God's judgment due to their pride, corruption, and idolatry. (Ezekiel 26-28; Isaiah 23; Joel 3:4-8). They were destroyed by the Babylonians and Greeks. In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great famously destroyed the island city of Tyre by building a causeway to reach it, fulfilling prophecies like those in Ezekiel 26.

Jesus' point is that if these gentile and pagan cities saw the miracles Jesus has done, they will repent before God. However, God's own people will not change their ways. 

(v23-24) Jesus also said that Capernaum will not be lifted to heavens, but will go down to Hades. If Sodom saw the miracles of Jesus, they would have repented and would not have been destroyed by God. Even Sodom's punishment at judgement day will be more bearable than Capernaum. (Genesis 19:1-29 - Destruction of Sodom.)

The towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum faced severe judgment than the pagan cities because they were privileged to witness many of Jesus' miracles and teachings, yet they did not repent. They later saw Jesus' sacrifice and heard the gospels from the disciples in Acts, but many of them still do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. 

We learn from here that the greater exposure to God's truth demands greater responsibility to respond.

v25-29: Rest For The Weary (Luke 10:21-24)

(v25-26) Jesus prayed to His Father, and praised Him as Lord of heaven and earth, because He has hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to "little children", as this is what God wants to do. 

Jesus uses the term "little children" metaphorically to describe those who are humble, teachable, and open-hearted. He contrasts them with the "wise and learned," referring to people who are proud or self-reliant in their knowledge and are unwilling to receive spiritual truths.  

(v27) Then He said that all things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and all those whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 

Jesus is declaring that He has the authority and unity with God. They know each other very well, and Jesus can reveal God to those he chose. In other words, Jesus has intimacy with God and He is the only pathway to God. In fact they are the same Being - the trinity of God the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. 

Many teachers of the law and the Pharisees did not grasp that the Messiah would be the divine Son of God, as revealed in Jesus' teachings. So, when Jesus referred to God as His Father and claimed divine authority, He is committing blasphemy in their mind. 

(v28-30) Jesus told the people: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Jesus calls those who are spiritually weary and burden, due to their struggles to and anxiety to live righteously while facing sin and guilts. The strict law and legalistic rituals imposed by the religious leaders are likely to overwhelmed them. 

Instead, Jesus invites them to take His "yoke," which represents His teachings and way of life, described as "easy" and "light."

A yoke is a wooden beam that joins two oxen together, enabling them to pull a load or plow in unison. It ensures they work together efficiently, with their strength balanced and directed toward a common purpose.  

Oxen work in pairs, and the stronger or more experienced ox often helps guide and support the weaker one. Jesus, being infinitely strong and gentle, takes the heavier burden, making our part light and manageable. He also said we can learn from Him, and He is humble and will be gentle with us. 

Other scriptures that asked us to lean on Jesus when we are anxious or troubled: 

Psalm 55:22: "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."

John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Isaiah 40:29-31: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."

Isn't it true that Jesus is very patient with the believers who tends to thread slowly and keep stumbling? How great is our God, who is gentle with us, and yet is the creator of the universe? Which king can compare to Him!