THE HOLIESTCommentaries on St. Matthew
Tablet Seventeen
Chapter 11
"And it came to pass, when Esa had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities." (Matthew 11:1)
<1>Christ himself started to teach also, but to the people of "their cities" (Jews).
"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,""And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"
"Esa answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:"
"The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matthew 11:2-5)
<2>John recognized Esa as the Anointed One when he came to John to be baptized (Matthew 3:13-15). In that moment a sudden realization came to John to realize Esa. But later on when many things happened, John lost that high state of realization and doubt came to him about Esa.
<3>That is why he had sent his disciples to make sure that Esa is the one for whom they were waiting. Esa said that he was the one.
"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Matthew 11:6)
<4>Blessed is he who creates no doubt about the One (Christ) who brings the truth for humanity, and is not offended in the truth he reveals.
"And as they departed, Esa began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?""But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in king's houses."
"But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet."
"For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." (Matthew 11:7-10)
<5>John was not only a Prophet but he was a great Prophet. He was one of those whose coming had been prophesied.
"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11)
<6>Whoever is most humble is greatest.
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.""For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." (Matthew 11:12-13)
<7>John and his preaching were violently opposed. But this preaching of the Kingdom Of Heaven was given by all the Prophets until John. In fact the very reason for choosing Abram (Abraham) and the Hebrews was so they would establish the Kingdom Of Heaven On Earth, and the whole Old Testament is about God's struggle with the human kings to walk in His Ways.
"And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." (Matthew 11:14)
<8>Christ said, "If you are willing to accept it, John is the reincarnation of Elias which all were waiting to come and prepare the way." <9>As it is said, he went to preach to the Jews. Now he started to attack them directly to prepare them so that they would become bitter, so eventually crucify him, and the prophecies about him would be fulfilled.
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:15)
<10>Those who have opened their spiritual eyes and are ready to receive the truth will hear and understand these things to be true.
"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,""And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented."
"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil."
"The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children." (Matthew 11:16-19)
<11>The human always tries to find fault in those who say the truth, so they can justify themselves why they will not follow the one who says the truth. It has been evident all through history. <12>People persecute the Prophets and Seers because they want to stay in their lower natures and not change and be born into their higher selves.
<13>That is why when John came, fasted, wore hard clothes, and ate simple food, they said he had a devil. Then Christ came and did the opposite, eating, drinking, and instead of going into the desert, he stayed in the cities. Then they said he was a friend of the publicans, a winebibber, and gluttonous. <14>It does not matter what the Prophet does. Those who are blind and deaf will not hear him, because they create so many concepts and pay attention to so many unimportant things that they forget about the main reason for which he had come, "the message."
<15>However, God (wisdom) will justify their actions. They will go through so much suffering that they will have no choice but to eventually become awakened into truth.
"Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:" (Matthew 11:20)
<16>He did so many mighty works and miracles but they would not repent. They either wanted more miracles, because only greedy people are attracted to the person who does miracles, or they accused him of doing them by the power of the devil. <17>Also man forgets miracles, and they become myths. That is why in the era to come, each person should become a priest and seek the truth. Each man should be(come) Divine and make others Divine also.
"Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.""But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you."
"And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day."
"But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for thee." (Matthew 11:21-24)
<18>He became very unhappy about the people. He had done so many miracles and mighty works for them, but they took the miracles and healing without repenting and following his teachings. That is why he angrily cursed them.
"At that time Esa answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.""Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." (Matthew 11:25-26)
<19>Those who think they are wise and prudent have many concepts and expectations which will close their eyes to the truth. <20>Only simple people and the pure in heart, "babes," can understand these things.
<21>Christ surrendered (the result) to the situation because it was His Will to be this way, "for so it seemed good in thy sight."
"All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)
<22>God has given all knowledge and power to Christ, who is the son of God (Pure Consciousness). <23>No man knows the Father but those who have reached Pure Consciousness (son) and those who see God's qualities through the son, "and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.""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."
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
<24>In other words, "I have peace and I can give it to those who are looking for it. I have no pride of the false ego. I will accept you as you are, and I will give to you from the fountain of life so that you will thirst no more, and will bring you to the peace of God."
<25>The burden of life is heavy because of ignorance. When a person goes to God and sees that most of his problems in reality are not problems at all but are there because he created them himself by his unnecessary attachments, desires, and greed, then he will simplify his life and find the peace and truth in simplicity and simple things. <26>He will surrender to the Lord, so his burden will be taken away or become light, as the burden of all realized people is light, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."