Matthew 11:11

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

It is true when I tell you, among [all] those born of women, no one greater than John the Immerser has come along. Yet the least significant person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Cross References

Matthew 11:10

He is the one about whom it was written [Mal. 3:1], ‘Look, I [will] send my messenger on ahead of you. He will prepare the pathway in front of you.’

Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John the Immerser the kingdom of heaven is experiencing turmoil, for violent men are [trying to] take control of it [by bringing it into existence] forcibly [i.e., before its appointed time. See Acts 1:6- 7].

Matthew 3:1

(Thirty years later) In those days, John the Immerser went into the desert of Judea preaching [to Jews], saying,

Matthew 3:11

“I certainly am immersing you in water following [your] repentance, but the One who follows me [i.e., in my ministry], whose sandals I do not deserve to remove [as His slave], will immerse you people with the Holy Spirit and with fire [i.e., the punishment in hell. See verses 10 and 12].

Matthew 5:19

Therefore, whoever disregards one of these least [significant] requirements [of the Law of Moses] and teaches others to [disregard them], he will be considered the least [significant person] in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys them and teaches [others to obey] them, will be considered important in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 1:15

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and he will not drink any wine or intoxicating drinks [Note: This restriction suggests that John may have taken the special vow of consecration making him a “Nazarite”]. And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is born.

Luke 7:28

And I tell you, among [all] those born of women, there is no one greater than John [the Immerser], yet the least significant person in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Luke 9:48

and said to the disciples, “The person who welcomes this little child in my name [i.e., because he belongs to me], welcomes me [also]. And the person who welcomes me [i.e., into his life (?)] welcomes God, who sent me. For that person who is the least [significant] among you men is the one who is the greatest [in importance].”

John 1:15

John gave testimony about Jesus, shouting out, ”This person is the one about whom I said, ‘He who will come after me ranks above me because He existed before me.’”

John 1:27

He is the One who will follow my ministry; [and] I do not deserve to untie his sandal lace.”

John 10:41

Many people came to Him and were saying, “It is true that John did not perform any [miraculous] signs, but everything he said about this man was true.”

John 3:30

He [i.e., Jesus] must increase [in importance and influence], while I must decrease.”

John 5:35

John was the lamp that was burning and glowing and you people were willing to enjoy the light that he projected for awhile.

John 7:39

Now He said this about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive [See Acts 2:38]. For [at that time] the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet received splendor [in heaven].

1 Corinthians 15:9

For I am the least [significant] of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 6:4

So then, if you have cases [or, courts] for deciding matters of this life, do you appoint [as judges] those who have no standing in the church? [i.e., heathens]. [Note: This difficult passage may also be taken as a statement, using sarcasm, “you appoint as judges...”].

Ephesians 2:3

All of us [Jews] also once lived among such people, fulfilling the improper cravings of our physical being and doing what our bodies and minds desired. In this natural [unconverted] state we were deserving of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].

Ephesians 3:8

This favor of preaching the unfathomable riches of Christ to the Gentiles was given to me [even though] I am the least significant of all saints [i.e., God’s holy people].

2 Timothy 1:10

But, it has [only] now been made known to us by the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has put an end to death and brought [never ending] life and incorruption [i.e., immortality] to light through the Gospel [message],

Hebrews 11:40

because God had planned to give us something better [than they got], so that they would not be complete without us. [Note: The idea here is that these faithful people of Old Testament times did not receive the fullest of blessings until Christ came to make them available to both them and us together].

1 Peter 1:10

The prophets [of old], who spoke of this salvation, asked about and searched diligently concerning the unearned favor [God provided] for you people.