Matthew 11

According to Luke 7:35, Jesus also said, “… wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Here the word children means “actions.” Good actions are the “children” of wisdom.

(Luke 10:13-15)

20-21 Jesus had performed many miracles in Korazin and Bethsaida.⁵¹ Jesus fed five thousand men near Bethsaida (Mark 6:44-45). But the people of those Jewish cities did not repent of their sins and turn to Christ. Tyre and Sidon were two great Gentile cities on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel (in modern Lebanon). In Jesus’ time they were known for their wealth and their wickedness. But, said Jesus, if He had performed such miracles in Tyre and Sidon, the people of those cities would have repented in sackcloth and ashes.⁵²

22 Therefore, the guilt of Korazin and Bethsaida was much greater, because even though they had witnessed Jesus’ miracles they had still rejected Him and refused to repent. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded (Luke 12:48).

23-24 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? Capernaum, located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, was Jesus’ own town (Matthew 9:1; Mark 2:1). It was a proud city. Its people exalted themselves. But Jesus said that they will be cast down. Because they rejected Christ, they will receive a greater punishment than the people of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-29; Matthew 10:14-15). Sodom was destroyed by God because of its wickedness; Capernaum will receive an even worse punishment on the final day of judgment.

(Luke 10:21-22)

25-26 Jesus was happy because even though God had hidden the meaning of Jesus’ words and miracles from the wise and learned, yet He had revealed their meaning to little children, that is, to those who have faith (see Mark 10:15). Jesus was not happy that the wise and learned were spiritually ignorant; He was happy that the little children were spiritually wise.

The wise and learned are those who suppose they can understand spiritual things by their own human understanding. But this is impossible (see 1 Corinthians 2:14). The world through its wisdom did not know him (1 Corinthians 1:21). The little children are those who are humble, who are dependent on the Holy Spirit, whose minds are open. Only such people can receive the things of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:7-10,12). God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). This is the Father’s good pleasure (verse 26).

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father,” said Jesus. All things means all the power and wisdom and authority of the Father (Matthew 28:18). God gave Christ the Spirit without limit (John 3:34). The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands (John 3:35). Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is mine” (John 16:15).

Only the Father has complete knowledge of Jesus. In the same way, only Jesus has full knowledge of the Father, because He and the Father are one (John 10:30). And Jesus has given this knowledge to those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. We did not choose Jesus; He chose us (John 15:16). Everything Jesus received from the Father He has revealed to those who believe in Him (John 15:15).

No one can truly know God unless Jesus reveals Him. No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known (John 1:18). People from every race and nation are continually seeking God, but only those who believe in Jesus can ever truly know God. Only Jesus has revealed the true nature of God (see Colossians 2:9 and comment). God has been fully revealed in Jesus Christ. When we know Jesus, we will know God. Those who reject Jesus seek God in vain.

28 Jesus promises rest to all the weary and burdened who repent and come to Him. He takes away their burden of sin. His rest is spiritual. It is inner peace. It is freedom from fear and anxiety. It is rest for your souls (verse 29). It is a rest that will last forever (see Hebrews 4:9-10).

Worldly men seek rest and peace in religious rituals and good works, but they do not find it. In order to find true rest and peace, it is necessary to come to the one true giver of peace, Jesus; true rest and peace cannot be found anywhere else (see John 14:27 and comment).

The rest that Jesus gives is not a cessation of activity. It is filled with joy and praise. It is filled with love and fellowship. It is filled with the presence of God Himself.

29  Take my yoke upon you. The Jews lived under the yoke of the law. This yoke was a heavy burden (Matthew 23:4). They were obliged to obey hundreds of regulations. If they broke even one, it counted as if they had broken the whole law (James 2:10). Not even the Jews could bear the demands of the law (Acts 15:10).

Jesus freed men from the yoke of the law, but He gave them another yoke. His “yoke” was also a yoke of obedience, but it was obedience not to a law, but to Jesus Himself. To obey Jesus is not a burden, because He is our friend, our shepherd, our Savior. Those who love Jesus desire to keep His commands (John 14:15).

Jesus is gentle and humble. He is not impatient with us when we are slow to learn. He is not harsh with us when we stumble. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20). Who would not want to learn from such a teacher?

30  Jesus’ yoke is easy. This does not mean that Jesus’ followers will have an easy life. The path of the Christian is narrow and difficult (Matthew 7:13-14). But the Christian’s yoke is easy, his burden is light. We do not have to labor under the yoke of the law (see Romans 8:2). We do not have to carry a burden of sin and sorrow and worry. Jesus helps us, strengthens us. And He gives us joy as we follow Him (John 15:11).