Conversation Points for Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Study Format:
1. Read passage aloud. What did you notice in the reading? What words or phrase caught your attention?
2. Read passage aloud a second time. What questions would you ask the text?
3. Read passage aloud a third time. What do you hear God calling you to do or be in response to this text?

Interesting Ideas to Consider:
• Prior to this, Jesus made clear the difference between himself (the expected “coming one”) and John the Baptist (the one who came to prepare the way). But the people recognize neither John’s asceticism nor Jesus’ peaceable kingdom.
• The lectionary leaves out v. 20-24, a section commonly titled “Woes to Unrepentant Cities.” While seemingly a boon to preachers to not have to deal with Jesus casting judgment on a bunch of places, it does leave the reading jumbled. V. 20-24 are similar in form to the “woes against foreign nations” common in the Old Testament (ex. Amos 1:3-2:3; Isaiah 13-23; Jeremiah 46-51; Ezekiel 25-32; Obadiah). Like the OT prophetic announcements, these pronounce not an unchangeable fate, but a call to repentance.
• Following v. 20-24, v. 25-30 highlight that the woes and calls for judgment were not Jesus’ final word. While Jesus’ message found rejection in some places, it was accepted among the “little people,” those often overlooked by the power players of the time.
• V. 25-26 is not a thanksgiving prayer for successful mission; it is a reflection on the “failure” of the Galilean mission highlighted by the unrepentant cities mentioned in v. 20-24. Those who accepted the message were not the wise, but “infants.” In other places, Matthew regards wisdom and understanding as positive attributes for disciples, so this is not a rejection of wisdom. Rather, it affirms that recognizing Jesus is not about having superior wisdom or religious status, but is a result of revelation.
• That knowledge is revealed is highlighted again in v. 27, where Jesus described himself not as a religious genius, but as a beloved Son who received wisdom through a divine, intimate relationship with the Father.
• The “rest” Jesus offered is not a life of ease, but a life free of the artificial barriers humans put on each other in the name of religion.

Works Sourced:
Boring, M. Eugene. “The Gospel of Matthew.” The New Interpreter’s Bible Volume VIII. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995.