3. The King’s invitation to the repentant 11:25-30This invitation is a sign of Israel’s rejection of her King since with it Jesus invited those who had believed in Him to separate from unbelieving Israel and to follow Him. In Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus addressed the condemned, but in Matthew 11:25-30 He spoke to the accepted. This section is a Christological high point in the Gospel. read more
The yoke that farmers put on their oxen is a metaphor for the discipline of discipleship. This is not the yoke of the Mosaic Law but the yoke of discipleship to Jesus. Learning from Him involves assimilating what He reveals, not just imitating Him or learning from His experience.Jesus is not only the authoritative revealer. He is also the humble Servant of the Lord. He deals gently with the weak (cf. Matthew 18:1-10; Matthew 19:13-15). Jesus quoted Jeremiah 6:16, a passage that pointed to Him.... read more
The Disciples of the Baptist1. Tours of Jesus after dismissing His apostles. The apostles started on their mission about five weeks before the second Passover of the ministry (28 a.d.) and were away about a month. Jesus spent the interval partly in Galilee and partly in Jerusalem, whither he went to keep the Feast of Purim at the beginning of March (John 5:1). He rejoined the Twelve shortly before the Passover (John 6:4), and immediately afterwards fed the five thousand (Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10).... read more
(30) Easy.—The Greek has a wider range of meaning—good, helpful, kind, profitable.My burden is light.—The “burden” of Christ was the commandment that most characterised His teaching—the new commandment that men should love one another; and those who obeyed that commandment would find all to which it bound them light and easy. read more
Impatience Matthew 11:3 I. It was not by want of faith that the Baptist erred, but by Impatience, which is a different thing, except in so far as it may be said to imply distrust in the Divine wisdom. It is impatience when we would go faster than God, when we would force His hand either to destroy what is evil or to advance what is good, when we complain that He does nothing and hide3 Himself, because He does not ripen the grain and reap the harvest directly after seed-time. The cause of it is... read more
Chapter 10The Shadow of the Cross - Matthew 11:1-30; Matthew 12:1-50I-DISCOURAGEMENTS. {Matthew 11:1-30}HITHERTO almost everything has been hopeful and encouraging in our Evangelist’s record of the Saviour’s ministry. It began like daybreak on the shores of the sea of Galilee. Great multitudes followed Him wherever He went; and those whom He called to be with Him cheerfully responded to the summons. When He preached the Gospel of the kingdom, the people were astonished at His doctrine, and... read more
8. The Forerunner in Prison. The Kingdom Preaching Rejected. CHAPTER 11 1. John Imprisoned Sends his Disciples. (Matthew 11:1-6 .) 2. The King's Testimony Concerning John. (Matthew 11:7-19 .) 3. The King Announces Judgment. (Matthew 11:20-24 .) 4. The Greater Invitation. (Matthew 11:25-28 .) The first verse of this chapter belongs to the sending forth of the twelve, and should be put to the previous chapter. “And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding His twelve disciples, He... read more
11:30 For my yoke [is] {k} easy, and my burden is light.(k) May easily be carried. For his commandments are not grievous, for all who are born of God overcome the world; 1 John 5:4 . read more
Throughout Israel now the Lord carries on an intensive teaching and preaching in their cities. John the Baptist hears of this in the prison, but he is deeply puzzled, for he sends two of his disciples to Him to ask, "Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" Yet this same John had said of Him, "I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God" (John 1:34). No doubt John expected Him to very soon take His place of royal dignity as Messiah of Israel. Yet John's testimony to His... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 11:2-53
IV. THE OPPOSITION TO THE KING 11:2-13:53Chapters 11-13 record Israel’s rejection of her Messiah and its consequences. Opposition continued to build, but Jesus announced new revelation in view of hardened unbelief."The Evangelist has carefully presented the credentials of the king in relationship to His birth, His baptism, His temptation, His righteous doctrine, and His supernatural power. Israel has heard the message of the nearness of the kingdom from John the Baptist, the King Himself, and... read more