Matthew 11 And so it came to be – when Jesus finished making thorough arrangements and completed the process of instruction for His twelve students (or: disciples) – that He redirected His steps and passed on from out of that place so as to continue teaching and making public proclamation within their cities and towns.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ And so it came to be – when Jesus finished making thorough arrangements and completed the process of instruction for His twelve students (or: disciples) – [that] He redirected His steps and passed on from out of that place so as to continue teaching and making public proclamation within their cities and towns. ² Now John, hearing in the prison (or: jail) [about] the works and acts of the Christ [and] sending by means of his disciples, ³ said to Him, "Are You the One progressively coming (or: the ongoingly coming One), or are we – or should we be – constantly projecting an opinion and a hope into the future about a different one?" ⁴ And so, giving a considered response, Jesus said to them, "After traveling on your way, report back to John what you men are continuing to hear, and are repeatedly seeing: ⁵ "The blind folks are habitually seeing again, and the lame and crippled folks are continually walking about. The lepers are one-after-another being cleansed, and deaf people are habitually hearing. [Isa. 35:5-6] Even dead people are one-by-one being awakened and raised up [Isa. 26:14] – and the poor folks, the destitute ones, are continually having the good news of ease and wellness announced to them. [Isa. 61:1] ⁶ "And further, whoever is not caught by setting-off the trap-spring, and thus finding himself in a snare [of offence or antagonism], continues being a happy person!" ⁷ Now with these men going their way, Jesus started saying to the crowds, concerning John, "What did you people go out into the wilderness to gaze (or: gawk) at and watch? A reed being constantly shaken (cause to move to and fro) by a wind? ⁸ "But further, what did you folks go out to see and perceive? A person having been clothed in soft, delicate garments? Think about it! Those normally wearing soft and delicate garments are in the houses that belong to kings. ⁹ "But to the contrary, why did you come out? To see or perceive a prophet? Yes, I now say to you, even exceedingly more than a prophet. ¹⁰ "This person is he concerning whom it has been written, 'Look and consider! I, Myself, am repeatedly sending forth My messenger, as an emissary on a mission – before Your face (or: ahead of Your personal presence) – who will progressively make Your road (or: path) useable by constructing or repairing and preparing it in front of You (or: who will prepare Your way before You).' [Mal. 3:1] ¹¹ "Truly, I am now saying to you folks, among those born of women there has not been raised up a person greater than John the Immerser (the baptizer; the Baptist). Yet the one of lesser importance (or: the least; the smaller) within the reign of the heavens (or: kingdom of the atmospheres) constantly exists being greater than him. ¹² "Now from the days of John the Immerser until right now, the reign of the heavens (or: sovereign rule of the kingdom of the atmospheres) is itself continuously pressing (or: is progressively pressing and forcing itself) forward with urgency, and those urging and pressing forward [toward the goal] are one after another grasping it and then drawing it up [to themselves]. [note: I have rendered biazomai (press and force) as a middle; it can also be rendered as a passive] ¹³ "For you see, all the Prophets and the Law prophesy (showed light ahead of time) until (to the point of time up to; till the time of) John. ¹⁴ "And so, if you now desire and continue purposing to welcome, embrace and accept [it; or: him], he is (or: this very one exists being) Elijah – the one being at the point of being at [his] periodical coming (or: the person now being about to be presently and progressively coming). ¹⁵ "Let the person now having ears to continue hearing, continue listening and hearing (or: = pay attention)! ¹⁶ "Now to what or with whom shall I compare, or say is like, this generation? It exists being like little boys and girls, habitually sitting in the marketplaces, who – constantly shouting to different people – ¹⁷ "are repeatedly saying, 'We play the flute and pipe for you folks, and you are not dancing. We lament, wail and sing funeral songs, and yet you folks are not beating your chests or wailing.' ¹⁸ "You see, John came neither habitually eating nor constantly drinking, and people are continually saying, 'He continues having and holding a demon (Hellenistic concept and term: = an animistic influence).' ¹⁹ "The Son of the Man (the son of mankind; humanity's son; = the son of Adam; or: the Human Being) comes regularly eating and continuously drinking, and people are repeatedly saying, 'Look, see a person [who is] a glutton and a drunkard (one who habitually drinks too much wine), a friend of tax collectors (customs and tribute agents; or: tax farmers) and outcasts (sinners; folks that the religious people considered "worldly" and by way of life ceremonially unclean and thus separated from the religious community: outcasts of society who failed to measure up to religious and cultural standards; irreligious people)!' Well, Wisdom was set and deemed in right relationship with fairness and equity in the Way pointed out – from its deeds (works and actions)!" ²⁰ At that point He started to censure and reproach the character and reputation of the cities within which most (or: the majority) of His powers and abilities (or: expressions of power and deeds of ability) happened (were birthed), because they did not change their minds and way of thinking and return to God: ²¹ "Tragic will be your fate, Chorazin! Tragic will be your fate, Bethsaida! Because if the powers and abilities being birthed and happening within you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, long ago they would in sackcloth and ashes (= humility and regretful sorrow) have changed their minds and way of thinking, and would have turned to God. ²² "What is more, I now say to you folks, it will consequently be more endurable in, and for, Tyre and Sidon, in [the] day of separation and decision, than for you folks! ²³ "And as for you, Capernaum! Will you proceed to be 'exalted as far as heaven (or: the sky) '? No! 'You will brought down and "mounted" (as a female by a male) as far as the Unseen (Hades; = Sheol; the grave; the abode of the dead)!' [Isa. 14:13, 15] Because if the powers and abilities, being birthed and happening within you, had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained in place unto today. ²⁴ "What is more, I now say to you folks, that it will consequently be more endurable in, and for, [the] land of Sodom, in [the] day of separation and decision, than for you folks!" ²⁵ Speaking from a discerning and decided perception within that fitting situation (or: during that particular season [of ministry]; or: at that strategic moment), Jesus said, "I continue outwardly acclaiming My concurrence with You, publicly saying the same thing as You, O Father – Owner, Lord and Master of the heaven and of the earth (or: of the sky and atmosphere, as well as of the land) – that You hide (or: because You hid) these things from 'wise folks' (or: 'clever people') and 'understanding, intelligent, intellectuals,' and You unveil (or: revealed; disclosed) them to infants (babes who are not yet able to speak; = untutored, untaught, ordinary folks). ²⁶ "Yes Father, because in this way goodwill is birthed in front of You (or: because thus does Your thought, imagination and presuming of ease and wellness come into existence in Your presence)!" ²⁷ "All people were (or: Everything was) given to Me by, and under, My Father, and yet no one is by habit completely or accurately knowing the Son in an intimate and personal way – except the Father – nor does anyone continue having an intimate experiential full-knowledge of the Father – except the Son, as well as to or in whomever the Son in now desiring (wanting) to unveil [Him]. ²⁸ "So everyone come here, toward Me! – all those constantly weary and exhausted from toil and labor, as well as folks having been caused to carry a load, and continuing burdened down – and I, Myself, will refresh you and cause you folks to rest. ²⁹ "At once lift up My crossbeam (or: the yoke which is Me; the balance beam that comes from and pertains to Me) upon you people, and instantly learn from Me, because I am (or: I continuously exist being) mild-tempered (gentle, kind and considerate) and humble (low) in the heart, and ‘you folks will continue finding refreshment and discovering rest in and for your souls (the whole inner person; the mind, emotions and nerves).’ [Jer. 6:16] ³⁰ "You see, My crossbeam (or: the yoke which is Me; the balance beam that comes from and pertains to Me) is useful and kindly obliging, and My load (the burden that is Me and which pertains to Me) continues being light (not heavy)."