論施洗約翰

11 當耶穌吩咐完了他的十二個門徒,就離開了那裡,到各城鎮去傳道、教導人。 約翰在監獄裡聽說了基督所做的事,就派自己的幾個[a]門徒去 問耶穌:「將要來的那一位就是你嗎?還是我們應該等候別人呢?」

耶穌回答他們,說:「你們去把所聽見、所看見的告訴約翰 就是:瞎眼的得以看見,瘸腿的行走,痲瘋病人被潔淨,耳聾的聽見,死人得以復活,窮人得以聽到福音。 凡不因我被絆倒[b]的人,就蒙福了。」

約翰的門徒們走了,耶穌就開始對眾人談論約翰,說:「你們曾經到曠野去,是要觀看什麼呢?一根被風吹動的蘆葦嗎? 你們出去,究竟是要看什麼呢?一個身穿細軟衣服的人嗎?看哪,那些穿細軟衣服的人在王宮裡。 你們出去,究竟是要看什麼呢?一位先知嗎?是的,我告訴你們:他比先知還大。 10 他就是經上記載的那個人:

『看哪,我要差派我的使者在你前頭,
他要在你之前預備你的道[c]。』[d]

11 「我確實地告訴你們:在女人所生的人中,沒有出現過一個比施洗者[e]約翰更大的;然而在天國裡,再小的也比約翰更大。 12 從施洗者[f]約翰的日子到現在,天國是努力爭取的,努力爭取的人就得著它。[g] 13 約翰之前,所有的先知和律法都說預言。 14 如果你們願意接受,約翰就是那位要來的以利亞 15 凡是有耳的[h],就應當聽!

麻木的世代

16 「我要把這世代比做什麼呢?它就好比孩子們坐在街市上呼叫別的孩子, 17 說:

『我們為你們吹笛,
你們卻不跳舞;
我們唱哀歌,
你們也不捶胸。』

18 「因為約翰來了,不吃也不喝,他們就說:『他有鬼魔附身!』 19 人子來了,也吃也喝,他們就說:『看,這個貪食好酒的人!稅吏和罪人的朋友!』然而,智慧是憑著智慧的行為[i]被證明為義的。」

20 接著,耶穌開始斥責那些他曾經在其中行了許多神蹟的城市,因為那裡的人不肯悔改: 21 哥拉汛哪,你有禍了!伯賽達呀,你有禍了!因為在你們當中行過的神蹟,如果行在提爾西頓,那裡的人早就會披麻蒙灰悔改了。 22 不過我告訴你們:在那審判的日子,提爾西頓所受的,將要比你們還容易受呢! 23 而你——迦百農啊,你將被高舉到天上嗎?不,你將下到陰間。因為在你中間行過的神蹟,如果行在所多瑪,它就會存留到今天。 24 不過我告訴你們:在那審判的日子,所多瑪之地所受的,將要比你還容易受呢!」

到主那裡得安息

25 那時候,耶穌說:「父啊,天地的主,我讚美[j]你,因為你把這些事向有智慧的和有學問的人隱藏起來,而向小孩子們顯明出來。 26 是的,父啊!因為這正是你的美意。 27 我父把一切都交給了我。除了父,沒有人認識子;除了子和子所願意啟示的人,也沒有人認識父。

28 「所有勞苦和背負重擔的人哪,到我這裡來吧!我將使你們得到安息。 29 你們當負起我的軛,向我學,因為我心地柔和、謙卑。這樣,你們就將尋得靈魂的安息。 30 要知道,我的軛是容易負的,我的擔子是輕省的。」

Footnotes

  1. 馬太福音 11:2 幾個——有古抄本作「兩個」。
  2. 馬太福音 11:6 被絆倒——或譯作「放棄信仰」。
  3. 馬太福音 11:10 道——或譯作「路」。
  4. 馬太福音 11:10 《瑪拉基書》3:1。
  5. 馬太福音 11:11 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  6. 馬太福音 11:12 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  7. 馬太福音 11:12 天國是努力爭取的,努力爭取的人就得著它。——或譯作「天國受到強烈的攻擊,強者奪取它。」
  8. 馬太福音 11:15 有耳的——有古抄本作「有耳可聽的」。
  9. 馬太福音 11:19 行為——有古抄本作「兒女」。
  10. 馬太福音 11:25 讚美——或譯作「感謝」。

11 And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have [a]good tidings preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.

And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. [b]But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 10 This is he, of whom it is written,

[c]Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
Who shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is [d]but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye are willing to receive [e]it, this is Elijah, that is to come. 15 He that hath ears [f]to hear, let him hear. 16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows 17 and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not [g]mourn. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of [h]publicans and sinners! And wisdom [i]is justified by her [j]works.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his [k]mighty works were done, because they repented not. 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the [l]mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt [m]go down unto Hades: for if the [n]mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

25 At that season Jesus answered and said, I [o]thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: 26 yea, Father, [p]for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. 27 All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:5 Or, the gospel
  2. Matthew 11:9 Many ancient authorities read But what went ye out to see? a prophet?
  3. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1.
  4. Matthew 11:11 Greek lesser.
  5. Matthew 11:14 Or, him
  6. Matthew 11:15 Some ancient authorities omit to hear.
  7. Matthew 11:17 Greek beat the breast.
  8. Matthew 11:19 See marginal note on 5:46.
  9. Matthew 11:19 Or, was
  10. Matthew 11:19 Many ancient authorities read children: as in Lk. 7:35.
  11. Matthew 11:20 Greek powers.
  12. Matthew 11:21 Greek powers.
  13. Matthew 11:23 Many ancient authorities read be brought down.
  14. Matthew 11:23 Greek powers.
  15. Matthew 11:25 Or, praise
  16. Matthew 11:26 Or, that