Matthew 11:6 kjv
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Matthew 11:6 nkjv
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Matthew 11:6 niv
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."
Matthew 11:6 esv
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
Matthew 11:6 nlt
And he added, "God blesses those who do not fall away because of me. "
Matthew 11 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 7:23 | And blessed is he who does not stumble over Me. | Parallel passage to Matt 11:6 |
| Mt 13:57 | So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet... | Jesus causes offense in His hometown. |
| Mk 6:3 | "Is not this the carpenter... And they took offense at Him." | Specific instance of taking offense at Jesus's humble origins. |
| Jn 6:60-61 | Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This... | Disciples take offense at Jesus's teaching. |
| Isa 8:14-15 | He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense... | Prophecy of Messiah as a stumbling block. |
| Rom 9:33 | "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense... | Paul quoting Isaiah, relating it to Jesus. |
| 1 Pet 2:7-8 | "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone"... | Peter quoting Ps 118:22 & Isa 8:14, Christ as rock of offense. |
| Mt 24:10 | "And then many will be offended, betray one another, and hate one another." | Prophecy of offense in the end times. |
| Mt 5:3-12 | The Beatitudes, stating various forms of blessedness. | Broad context of true blessedness. |
| Lk 12:51-53 | "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I did not come... | Jesus bringing division, not peace, which can cause offense. |
| Isa 53:2-3 | "He has no form or comeliness... He is despised and rejected by men." | Prophecy of Messiah's humble appearance, not fitting expectations. |
| Phil 1:10 | ...that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be... | Walking without offense, uprightly. |
| 2 Cor 6:3 | We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. | Avoiding causing others to stumble or be offended. |
| Ps 119:165 | Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. | General principle of stability for those who love God's word. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me." | John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. |
| Lk 1:69-70 | "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant... | Prophecy of the mighty Savior for Israel's deliverance. |
| Jer 20:7-8 | O LORD, You induced me, and I was overpowered; You are stronger... | Prophet Jeremiah taking offense at God's call/message. |
| 1 Cor 1:22-24 | For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified... | Christ crucified is a stumbling block to Jews, folly to Gentiles. |
| Mk 4:16-17 | These are the ones sown on stony ground; who, when they hear the word... | Those who fall away when persecution or tribulation comes. |
| Jn 6:66 | From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. | Many stopped following due to difficult teachings (stumbling). |
| Acts 28:22 | "But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect... | Early Christians were often seen as a sect of offense. |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 6 Meaning
This verse pronounces a special blessing upon those who do not find a reason to stumble or take offense at Jesus Christ. It comes as a concluding statement to John the Baptist's disciples, who were sent to inquire if Jesus was "the One who is to come." Jesus had just presented evidence of His messianic identity through His miraculous works, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. Therefore, "blessed is he who is not offended in Me" signifies that true blessedness lies in accepting Jesus for who He is and what He does, without being tripped up by preconceived notions, His humble appearance, or His unconventional approach to the Kingdom of God, which defied common expectations of a conquering Messiah. It calls for a profound trust and unwavering faith in Him despite appearances that might seem contrary to one's understanding.
Matthew 11 6 Context
This verse stands at a pivotal point in Matthew's Gospel. Prior to this, John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herod, sends his disciples to Jesus with the question: "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" John, who previously testified to Jesus's identity, now faced doubt, likely due to Jesus's non-traditional ministry style which didn't align with expectations of a swift, conquering Messiah. Jesus's response in Matthew 11:4-5 points to His miracles – healing the blind, lame, cleansing lepers, making the deaf hear, raising the dead, and preaching good news to the poor – as evidence, directly referencing Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1. These were messianic signs. Matthew 11:6, then, serves as a divine affirmation of Jesus's identity and a gentle, yet profound, challenge. It directly addresses the potential for doubt and disappointment, not only in John but in anyone whose expectations of the Messiah or the Kingdom might clash with the reality of Jesus's ministry and humble person. It underscores the spiritual wisdom required to recognize and accept Jesus's work as the true fulfillment of God's plan.
Matthew 11 6 Word analysis
- And (kai): A simple conjunction that smoothly links this beatitude to Jesus's preceding list of miraculous signs, suggesting it's the direct implication or culmination of those proofs. It signifies a natural continuation of His discourse.
- blessed (makarios): This term denotes a state of profound, inner spiritual joy and flourishing, bestowed by God. It refers to a divinely favored or privileged condition, not merely superficial happiness. It's the same word used repeatedly in the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12), implying those who embody its criteria are in a state of grace and true spiritual prosperity.
- is he (estin hos): "Is" is a linking verb (estin) indicating existence. "He who" (hos) refers to anyone. This makes the statement universal, applying to anyone who meets the condition, not just John or his disciples.
- who is not (hos ou me): The "ou me" forms a strong double negative in Greek, conveying "never" or "by no means," emphasizing the complete absence of offense. It points to a decisive refusal or inability to be tripped up.
- offended (skandalizō): This significant verb means "to cause to stumble, to put a stumbling block in someone's way, to fall away, or to take offense." Its root, skandalon, referred to the bait-stick of a trap, a snare, or a stumbling block that causes one to fall. In a theological context, it means to desert one's faith, fall into sin, or lose trust in God. Here, it refers to a moral or spiritual stumbling, taking issue with or losing faith in Jesus due to His person, actions, or teachings that do not meet human expectations.
- in Me (en emoi): This crucial phrase specifies the source of the potential offense – Jesus Himself. The "in Me" indicates that the stumbling is directly related to Jesus's identity, His Messiahship, His methods, His humble state, or His challenging message. It implies a contrast between human expectations and divine reality.
Word-groups analysis
- And blessed is he: Connects the subsequent condition to the state of divine favor. It's a solemn declaration of spiritual fortune for a specific type of faith.
- who is not offended in Me: This phrase articulates the critical condition for experiencing the aforementioned blessedness. It means maintaining unwavering faith and trust in Jesus, irrespective of external circumstances or personal expectations, and refusing to allow anything about Him to cause spiritual failure or doubt. The emphasis is on internal disposition towards Christ.
Matthew 11 6 Bonus section
- The challenge of "not being offended in Me" is a recurring theme throughout Jesus's ministry. His humble birth, lack of political power, association with sinners, demanding teachings (e.g., eating His flesh and drinking His blood in Jn 6), and ultimately, His death on a cross, were all profound "stumbling blocks" for many contemporaries.
- This verse can be seen as a warning against developing a personalized Messiah or a customizable gospel that fits one's comfort level rather than God's revelation. True blessedness comes from accepting Christ on His terms.
- For disciples then and now, being "unoffended in Christ" means continuing to follow Him even when His path leads to suffering, when His commands seem hard, or when the promised Kingdom doesn't manifest in the expected timeline or fashion. It requires resilience and perseverance in faith.
- The phrase also highlights that recognizing Jesus as Messiah demands more than just witnessing miracles; it demands spiritual discernment and a receptive heart that doesn't falter when challenged.
Matthew 11 6 Commentary
Matthew 11:6 offers profound insight into the nature of true faith and the challenges of encountering the divine. Jesus pronounces a beatitude on those who are not "scandalized" by Him. This "stumbling" refers to an intellectual, emotional, or spiritual offense that arises when Jesus's reality, His kingdom, or His methods diverge from human preconceived notions, particularly regarding a glorious, conquering Messiah. John the Baptist, in prison, questioned Jesus because Jesus wasn't fulfilling the political liberation agenda that many expected. Jesus's response effectively reorients John – and all listeners – back to the clear messianic signs being performed. The blessing, therefore, is for those who are willing to abandon their own limited understanding and embrace the God who operates outside conventional wisdom. It is a call to humility and openness to divine revelation, even when it appears counter-intuitive or paradoxical. Accepting Jesus "as He is," rather than "as one expects Him to be," is the hallmark of blessed faith.