The least in a higher dispensation has great advantages over the greatest in a lower one. A child on a hill can see farther than a giant in the valley. Many have tried to right the world by violence, by the vehemence of their speech and acts. But it is not so that the Kingdom comes. Its weapon is not the sword, but the cross. Its advent is not as the thunder shower, but as the summer dew or the opening of the dawn.
Our Lord truly estimated the temper of His age. It was fickle, changeable, and hard to please; but beneath its evident superficiality there was a substratum of rock. They refused John because of his austerity, and they refused Jesus because of His human kindness and gentleness. Never trim your sails for the world's breath. The breeze springs up and soon dies away. Do God's will!
O sinful brother and sister, can we ever estimate enough the assurance that Jesus is the friend of our souls? He does not disown, withdraw, or reproach. He knows what our temptations are, and makes allowances, and loves us steadfastly forever. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 11
1John sends his disciples to Jesus 7Jesus' testimony concerning John 16The perverse judgment of the people concerning the Son 20Jesus upbraids Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum; 25and praising his Father's wisdom in revealing the Gospel to the simple, 28he calls to him those who are weary and burdened
Greek Commentary for Matthew 11:17
Children sitting in the market places [παιδιοις κατημενοις εν ταις αγοραις] This parable of the children playing in the market place is given also in Luke 7:31. Had Jesus as a child in Nazareth not played games with the children? He had certainly watched them often since. The interest of Christ in children was keen. He has really created the modern child‘s world out of the indifference of the past. They would not play wedding or funeral in a peevish fret. These metaphors in the Gospels are vivid to those with eyes to see. The αγορα agora was originally the assembly, then the forum or public square where the people gathered for trade or for talk as in Athens (Acts 17:17) and in many modern towns. So the Roman Forum. The oriental bazaars today are held in streets rather than public squares. Even today with all the automobiles children play in the streets. In English the word “cheap” (Cheapside) meant only barter and price, not cheap in our sense. The word for mourn (εκοπσαστε ekopsasthe) means to beat the heart, direct middle, after the fashion of eastern funeral lamentations. [source]
Luke 7:31And to what are they like? [και τινι εισιν ομοιοι] This second question is not in Matthew 11:16. It sharpens the point. The case of τινι tini is associative instrumental after ομοιοι homoioi See note on details in Matthew 11:17. [source]
John 16:20Weep - lament - be sorrowful [κλαύσετε - θρηνήσετε - λυπηθήσεσθε] Of these three words, the last is the most general in meaning, expressing every species of pain, of body or of soul, and not necessarily the outward manifestation of sorrow. Both the other words denote audible expressions of grief. Θρηνέω marks the more formal expression. It means to utter a dirge over the dead. Thus Homer, of the mourning over Hector in Troy:“On a fair couch they laid the corse, and placedSingers beside it leaders of the dirge ( θρηνων ), Who sang ( ἐθρήνεον ) a sorrowful, lamenting strain,-DIVIDER-
And all the women answered it with sobs.”“Iliad,” xxiv. 720-722. The verb occurs Matthew 11:17; Luke 7:32; Luke 23:27. Κλαίω means audible weeping, the crying of children, as distinguished from δακρύω , to shed tears, to weep silently, which occurs but once in the New Testament, of Jesus' weeping (John 11:35). See on Luke 7:32. [source]
John 16:20Ye shall weep and lament [κλαυσετε και τρηνησετε] Future active of κλαιω klaiō and τρηνεω thrēneō both old words (for κλαιω klaiō see John 11:31, for τρηνεω thrēneō see Matthew 11:17), both words used of the loud lamentations so common in the east. Shall rejoice Second future passive of χαιρω chairō in violent contrast. Picture the women on the way to the Cross (Luke 23:27, εκοπτοντο και ετρηνουν ekoptonto kai ethrēnoun two descriptive imperfects) and Mary Magdalene by the tomb (John 20:11, κλαιουσα klaiousa). Ye shall be sorrowful First future passive of λυπεω lupeō word for inward grief. See the change from sorrow to joy in John 20:14-16 when “they disbelieved for joy” (Luke 24:41). So violent was the reaction on the sudden appearance of Jesus. [source]
Revelation 1:7Shall wail because of Him [κόψονται ἐπ ' αὐτὸν] Rev., better, shall mourn over Him. Lit., shall beat their breasts. See on Matthew 11:17. [source]
Revelation 1:7Shall see [οπσεται] Future middle of οραω horaō a reminiscence of Zechariah 12:10 according to the text of Theodotion (Aquila and Symmachus) rather than the lxx and like that of Matthew 24:30 (similar combination of Daniel and Zechariah) and Matthew 26:64. This picture of the victorious Christ in his return occurs also in Revelation 14:14,Revelation 14:18-20; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:7-10.And they which (και οιτινες kai hoitines). “And the very ones who,” Romans and Jews, all who shared in this act.Pierced First aorist active indicative of εκκεντεω ekkenteō late compound (Aristotle, Polybius, lxx), from εκ ek and κεντεω kenteō (to stab, to pierce), in N.T., only here and John 19:37, in both cases from Zechariah 12:10, but not the lxx text (apparently proof that John used the original Hebrew or the translation of Theodotion and Aquila).Shall mourn (κοπσονται kopsontai). Future middle (direct) of κοπτω koptō old verb, to cut, “they shall cut themselves,” as was common for mourners (Matthew 11:17; Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27). From Zechariah 12:12. See also Revelation 18:9.Tribes Not just the Jewish tribes, but the spiritual Israel of Jews and Gentiles as in Revelation 7:4-8. No nation had then accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, nor has any yet done so. [source]
Revelation 1:7Pierced [εχεκεντησαν] First aorist active indicative of εκκεντεω ekkenteō late compound (Aristotle, Polybius, lxx), from εκ ek and κεντεω kenteō (to stab, to pierce), in N.T., only here and John 19:37, in both cases from Zechariah 12:10, but not the lxx text (apparently proof that John used the original Hebrew or the translation of Theodotion and Aquila).Shall mourn (κοπσονται kopsontai). Future middle (direct) of κοπτω koptō old verb, to cut, “they shall cut themselves,” as was common for mourners (Matthew 11:17; Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27). From Zechariah 12:12. See also Revelation 18:9.Tribes Not just the Jewish tribes, but the spiritual Israel of Jews and Gentiles as in Revelation 7:4-8. No nation had then accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, nor has any yet done so. [source]
Revelation 18:22Of harpers [κιταρωιδων] Old word (from κιταρα kithara harp, and ωιδος ōidos singer) as in Revelation 14:2.Of minstrels (μουσικων mousikōn). Old word (from μουσα mousa music), here only in N.T., one playing on musical instruments.Of flute-players Old word (from αυλεω auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24,Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Revelation 18:22Of flute-players [αυλητων] Old word (from αυλεω auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24,Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 11:17 mean?
sayingWe pipedfor youandnotyou did dancewe sang a dirgeyou did wail
Greek Commentary for Matthew 11:17
This parable of the children playing in the market place is given also in Luke 7:31. Had Jesus as a child in Nazareth not played games with the children? He had certainly watched them often since. The interest of Christ in children was keen. He has really created the modern child‘s world out of the indifference of the past. They would not play wedding or funeral in a peevish fret. These metaphors in the Gospels are vivid to those with eyes to see. The αγορα agora was originally the assembly, then the forum or public square where the people gathered for trade or for talk as in Athens (Acts 17:17) and in many modern towns. So the Roman Forum. The oriental bazaars today are held in streets rather than public squares. Even today with all the automobiles children play in the streets. In English the word “cheap” (Cheapside) meant only barter and price, not cheap in our sense. The word for mourn (εκοπσαστε ekopsasthe) means to beat the heart, direct middle, after the fashion of eastern funeral lamentations. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 11:17
Ofaudible weeping. See on Matthew 5:4. Matthew has ἐκόψασθε , beaten your breastsSee on Matthew 11:17. [source]
This second question is not in Matthew 11:16. It sharpens the point. The case of τινι tini is associative instrumental after ομοιοι homoioi See note on details in Matthew 11:17. [source]
Of these three words, the last is the most general in meaning, expressing every species of pain, of body or of soul, and not necessarily the outward manifestation of sorrow. Both the other words denote audible expressions of grief. Θρηνέω marks the more formal expression. It means to utter a dirge over the dead. Thus Homer, of the mourning over Hector in Troy:“On a fair couch they laid the corse, and placedSingers beside it leaders of the dirge ( θρηνων ), Who sang ( ἐθρήνεον ) a sorrowful, lamenting strain,-DIVIDER- And all the women answered it with sobs.”“Iliad,” xxiv. 720-722. The verb occurs Matthew 11:17; Luke 7:32; Luke 23:27. Κλαίω means audible weeping, the crying of children, as distinguished from δακρύω , to shed tears, to weep silently, which occurs but once in the New Testament, of Jesus' weeping (John 11:35). See on Luke 7:32. [source]
Future active of κλαιω klaiō and τρηνεω thrēneō both old words (for κλαιω klaiō see John 11:31, for τρηνεω thrēneō see Matthew 11:17), both words used of the loud lamentations so common in the east. Shall rejoice Second future passive of χαιρω chairō in violent contrast. Picture the women on the way to the Cross (Luke 23:27, εκοπτοντο και ετρηνουν ekoptonto kai ethrēnoun two descriptive imperfects) and Mary Magdalene by the tomb (John 20:11, κλαιουσα klaiousa). Ye shall be sorrowful First future passive of λυπεω lupeō word for inward grief. See the change from sorrow to joy in John 20:14-16 when “they disbelieved for joy” (Luke 24:41). So violent was the reaction on the sudden appearance of Jesus. [source]
Rev., better, shall mourn over Him. Lit., shall beat their breasts. See on Matthew 11:17. [source]
Future middle of οραω horaō a reminiscence of Zechariah 12:10 according to the text of Theodotion (Aquila and Symmachus) rather than the lxx and like that of Matthew 24:30 (similar combination of Daniel and Zechariah) and Matthew 26:64. This picture of the victorious Christ in his return occurs also in Revelation 14:14, Revelation 14:18-20; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:7-10.And they which (και οιτινες kai hoitines). “And the very ones who,” Romans and Jews, all who shared in this act.Pierced First aorist active indicative of εκκεντεω ekkenteō late compound (Aristotle, Polybius, lxx), from εκ ek and κεντεω kenteō (to stab, to pierce), in N.T., only here and John 19:37, in both cases from Zechariah 12:10, but not the lxx text (apparently proof that John used the original Hebrew or the translation of Theodotion and Aquila).Shall mourn (κοπσονται kopsontai). Future middle (direct) of κοπτω koptō old verb, to cut, “they shall cut themselves,” as was common for mourners (Matthew 11:17; Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27). From Zechariah 12:12. See also Revelation 18:9.Tribes Not just the Jewish tribes, but the spiritual Israel of Jews and Gentiles as in Revelation 7:4-8. No nation had then accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, nor has any yet done so. [source]
First aorist active indicative of εκκεντεω ekkenteō late compound (Aristotle, Polybius, lxx), from εκ ek and κεντεω kenteō (to stab, to pierce), in N.T., only here and John 19:37, in both cases from Zechariah 12:10, but not the lxx text (apparently proof that John used the original Hebrew or the translation of Theodotion and Aquila).Shall mourn (κοπσονται kopsontai). Future middle (direct) of κοπτω koptō old verb, to cut, “they shall cut themselves,” as was common for mourners (Matthew 11:17; Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27). From Zechariah 12:12. See also Revelation 18:9.Tribes Not just the Jewish tribes, but the spiritual Israel of Jews and Gentiles as in Revelation 7:4-8. No nation had then accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, nor has any yet done so. [source]
Future middle (direct) of κοπτω koptō old verb, to cut, “they shall cut themselves,” as was common for mourners (Matthew 11:17; Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27). From Zechariah 12:12. See also Revelation 18:9. [source]
Old word (from κιταρα kithara harp, and ωιδος ōidos singer) as in Revelation 14:2.Of minstrels (μουσικων mousikōn). Old word (from μουσα mousa music), here only in N.T., one playing on musical instruments.Of flute-players Old word (from αυλεω auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Old word (from αυλεω auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]