Matthew 11: John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Yoke That is Light

Hi everyone, this is Jill from the Northwoods. Thank you for joining me again! Today, we’re diving into Matthew 11, where we find John the Baptist in prison, asking one of the most profound questions of his life: Is Jesus really the Messiah?

We’re coming off the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus has recently called his apostles. Now, we see a shift—John the Baptist, the very man who prepared the way for Jesus, is in a difficult place.

John the Baptist’s Question from Prison

John, who had been preaching about the coming Messiah, was now imprisoned by Herod. From his cell, he sent his disciples to Jesus with an honest and raw question:

👉 “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

It’s a surprising question from the man who baptized Jesus and proclaimed His coming. But put yourself in John’s place. He had spent his life boldly preaching repentance, living in the wilderness, eating locusts, and wearing camel’s hair. Now, he was stuck in prison while Jesus was out healing the sick and raising the dead. Perhaps John expected something different—a more immediate judgment on the wicked, a more visible kingdom.

Jesus’ Response: Signs of the Kingdom

Instead of a simple “yes” or “no,” Jesus responded with evidence:

📜 “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:4-5)

These words echo the prophecies of Isaiah. Jesus was showing John that the Kingdom of God was indeed here—but perhaps not in the way he had expected.

Then Jesus adds:

✝️ “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:6)

In other words, don’t stumble over the way I choose to bring about the Kingdom. Some were expecting a political ruler, but Jesus was bringing a deeper, more eternal salvation.

John the Baptist: The Greatest Yet the Least?

After addressing John’s question, Jesus turned to the crowd and asked:

👀 “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?” (Matthew 11:7)

John wasn’t weak or easily swayed by popular opinion. He wasn’t a man of luxury, dressed in fine clothes. He was a prophet—and more than a prophet.

Jesus then makes a remarkable statement:

📖 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)

Why would John, the greatest man born of women, be considered least in the Kingdom of Heaven? Because John represented the old era—the prophets who pointed toward Jesus. But those who live after Jesus’ death and resurrection get to experience the fulfillment of what John could only announce.

John had the honor of preparing the way, but he wouldn’t see the full picture of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

A Kingdom Under Attack

Jesus then speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven suffering violence:

⚔️ “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.” (Matthew 11:12)

Scholars interpret this in different ways, but the main idea is that the Kingdom of God is advancing, and people are reacting—some trying to force their way in, others trying to oppose it. There’s urgency, a battle happening.

The Unbelieving Generation

Jesus then rebukes the people for their fickleness:

🎵 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” (Matthew 11:17)

No matter what approach was taken—John’s strictness or Jesus’ mercy—the people found a reason to reject both.

John was too extreme. Jesus was too lenient. There was no pleasing them.

Warnings to Unrepentant Cities

Jesus then pronounces judgment on cities that had witnessed His miracles yet refused to repent:

⚠️ Chorazin, Bethsaida, and even Capernaum (His own ministry base) had seen His works yet remained unchanged.

He says something shocking:

🔥 “If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.” (Matthew 11:23)

Sodom, the city known for its wickedness, would have repented if it had seen what these cities had seen. But instead, they rejected Jesus, sealing their own fate.

The Yoke That is Easy

Then, Jesus shifts from judgment to one of the most comforting passages in Scripture:

✝️ “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

He invites the weary, the burdened, the exhausted to come to Him.

He continues:

🪶 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

A yoke was a wooden harness placed on oxen to pull a plow. Typically, a younger ox was paired with an experienced ox, so the older one carried most of the weight.

Jesus is saying: Take my yoke. I will carry the heavy burden. Walk with me, and you will find rest.

For a people crushed under the burden of religious legalism and hardship, this was a radical and life-giving invitation.

Takeaways for Us Today

1️⃣ Faith Isn’t Always Easy – Even John the Baptist had doubts. It’s okay to ask questions, but we must bring them to Jesus.

2️⃣ The Kingdom Doesn’t Always Look Like We Expect – The Jews expected a political Messiah, but Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted.

3️⃣ We Will Face Rejection – Some rejected John for being too strict and Jesus for being too welcoming. The world will always find a reason to reject the truth.

4️⃣ Come to Jesus for Rest – If you’re feeling overburdened, spiritually exhausted, or just weighed down by life, Jesus invites you to come to Him.

Final Thoughts & Prayer

This passage reminds me that the message of Jesus isn’t just for the “wise” or the powerful—it’s for everyone. For the fisherman, the tax collector, the carpenter. For the overlooked and the weary.

Maybe you feel burdened today—by work, by expectations, by the struggles of life. Take on Jesus’ yoke. Walk with Him. Let Him carry the weight.

🙏 Lord, help us to trust in You even when things don’t look as we expect. Give rest to those who are weary and strength to those who feel forgotten. Teach us to walk in step with You. Amen.

Thanks for joining me today! If you ever need prayer or just want to reach out, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you.

Have a wonderful week! ❤️