Matthew 11:6
And blessed is he,
whosoever shall not be offended in me.
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Other translations
New International Version
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.
New Living Translation
And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.
English Standard Version
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
Berean Study Bible
Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.
Berean Literal Bible
And blessed is he who shall not fall away in Me.
New King James Version
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
New American Standard Bible
And blessed is any person who does not take offense at Me.
NASB 1995
“And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.
NASB 1977
“And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.
Amplified Bible
And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].
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He pronounces a blessing on those that are not offended in Him (Matthew 11:6).
The evidences of Christ’s mission are so clear, that they who are not wilfully prejudiced against him, and scandalized in Him, cannot but receive His doctrine, and so be blessed in Him.
There are many things in the Christ which they who are ignorant and unthinking are apt to be offended at, some circumstances for the sake of which they reject the substance of his gospel.
- The meanness of His appearance,
- His education at Nazareth,
- The poverty of His life,
- The despicableness of His followers,
- The slights which the great men put upon Him,
- The strictness of His doctrine,
- The contradiction it gives to flesh and blood,
- And the sufferings that attend the profession of His name
These are things that keep many from Him, who otherwise cannot but see much of God in Him.
Thus He is set for the fall of many, even in Israel (Luke 2:34), a Rock of offence (1 Peter 2:8)
They who get over these offences are blessed.
The expression intimates,
▪︎ that it is a difficult thing to conquer these prejudices,
▪︎ and that it is a dangerous thing not to conquer them.
But those, who, notwithstanding this opposition, believe in the Christ, their faith will find praise, honour, glory.
Blessed is he
The words at once confirm the view that the question which the messengers had brought came from the Baptist himself, and show how tenderly our Lord dealt with the impatience which it implied.
A warning was needed, but it was given in the form of a beatitude which it was still open to him to claim and make his own.
Not to find a stumbling-block in the manner in which the Christ had actually come, that was the condition of entering fully into the blessedness of His kingdom.
Offence
The word “offence” can also be interpreted as “stumbling-block.” (See Matthew 5:29). So this verse could also be rendered, “Happy is he to whom I shall not prove to be a stumbling-block.”
- That is, happy is he who shall not take offence at my poverty and lowliness of life, so as to reject me and my doctrine.
- Happy is the one who can, notwithstanding that poverty and obscurity, see the evidence that I am the Messiah, and follow me.
It is not improbable that John wished Jesus publicly to proclaim himself as the Christ, instead of seeking retirement.
Jesus replied that he gave sufficient evidence of that by his works; that a man might discover it if he chose; and that he was blessed or happy who should appreciate that evidence and embrace him as the Christ, in spite of his humble manner of life.
The Jews were offended
- at Christ’s parentage and birth,
- at the poverty of his parents,
- and at the manner of his birth, by a virgin;
- and at the place of his birth, which they thought to be Galilee;
- at his education, because he was not learned as the scribes and Pharisees were,
- at his mean appearance in his public ministry, in his own person,
- and in his attendants: his company and audience being the poorer sort, the more ignorant, and who had been loose and scandalous persons, publicans and sinners;
- at the doctrines he preached, particularly, which respected his own deity and eternity, the distinguished grace of God, and living by faith upon his flesh and blood.
The disciples of John also were offended in him,
- because he and his disciples did not fast, and lead such an austere life as they and their master did;
- because of the meanness and obscurity of Christ’s kingdom;
- because of the imprisonment of John,
- and because of the many reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, which did, and were likely to attend a profession of Christ.
This our Lord knew, and had a peculiar respect to them in these words; but happy are those persons, who, notwithstanding all these difficulties and discouragements,
- are so far from stumbling at Christ, and falling from Him,
- that they heartily receive Him and believe in Him,
- make a profession of him, and hold it fast;
- greatly love, highly value, and esteem him,
- and are willing to part with all, and bear all for his sake.
These are blessed, notwithstanding all their sufferings for Him even now; they have spiritual peace, joy, and comfort in their souls, and shall be happy in the full enjoyment of him to all eternity.
Greek
Blessed ☆ μακάριός (makarios) ☆ Adjective – Nominative Masculine Singular ☆ Happy, blessed, to be envied. A prolonged form of the poetical makar; supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off.
Is ☆ ἐστιν (estin) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
The [one who] ☆ ὃς (hos) ☆ Personal / Relative Pronoun – Nominative Masculine Singular ☆ Who, which, what, that.
does not fall away ☆ σκανδαλισθῇ (skandalisthē) ☆ Verb – Aorist Subjunctive Passive – 3rd Person Singular ☆ From skandalon; to entrap, i.e. Trip up (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure).
ἐὰν (ean) ☆ Conjunction ☆ If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.
μὴ (mē) ☆ Adverb ☆ Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.
on account of ☆ ἐν (en) ☆ Preposition ☆ In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; ‘in, ‘ at, on, by, etc.
Me ☆ ἐμοί (emoi) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Dative 1st Person Singular ☆ I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
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