The voice of upbraiding, Matthew 11:20-24. The Judge weeps as he pronounces the doom of those who reject Him. They would have crowned Him king, but refused to repent. See John 6:15. These cities did not crucify Him, but they had been deaf to His warnings and indifferent to His mighty works. Even where there is no direct opposition, indifference will be sufficient to seal our doom.
The voice of thanksgiving, Matthew 11:25-27. He "answered" the voice of God within His breast. Babes are those who mistrust the reasonings of their intellect, but trust the instincts and intuitions of their hearts. The child-heart looks open-eyed into all the mysteries of God. Learn to say Yea to all God's dealings. The Spirit reveals the Son, and the Son the Father. Our Lord must be divine, if only God can know him.
The voice of pleading mercy, Matthew 11:28-30. Labor is for active manhood; heavy-laden for suffering, patient womanhood. The invitation is to commit and submit; to come and to bow under the yoke of the Father's will. Submission and obedience are the secrets of the blessed life. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 11
1John sends his disciples to Jesus 7Jesus' testimony concerning John 16The perverse judgment of the people concerning the Son 20Jesus upbraids Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum; 25and praising his Father's wisdom in revealing the Gospel to the simple, 28he calls to him those who are weary and burdened
Greek Commentary for Matthew 11:26
Wellpleasing in thy sight [ευδοκια εμπροστεν σου] “For such has been thy gracious will” (Weymouth). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 11:26
Luke 2:14Among men in whom he is well pleased [εν αντρωποις ευδοκιας] The Textus Receptus (Authorized Version also has ευδοκια eudokia but the genitive ευδοκιας eudokias is undoubtedly correct, supported by the oldest and best uncials. (Aleph, A B D W). C has a lacuna here. Plummer justly notes how in this angelic hymn Glory and Peace correspond, in the highest and on earth, to God and among men of goodwill. It would be possible to connect “on earth” with “the highest” and also to have a triple division. There has been much objection raised to the genitive ευδοκιας eudokias the correct text. But it makes perfectly good sense and better sense. As a matter of fact real peace on earth exists only among those who are the subjects of God‘s goodwill, who are characterized by goodwill toward God and man. This word ευδοκια eudokia we have already had in Matthew 11:26. It does not occur in the ancient Greek. The word is confined to Jewish and Christian writings, though the papyri furnish instances of ευδοκησις eudokēsis Wycliff has it “to men of goodwill.” [source]
Ephesians 1:5Good pleasure [εὐδοκίαν] Not strictly in the sense of kindly or friendly feeling, as Luke 2:14; Philemon 1:15, but because it pleased Him, see Luke 10:21; Matthew 11:26. The other sense, however, is included and implied, and is expressed by in love. [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 11:26 mean?
Greek Commentary for Matthew 11:26
“For such has been thy gracious will” (Weymouth). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 11:26
The Textus Receptus (Authorized Version also has ευδοκια eudokia but the genitive ευδοκιας eudokias is undoubtedly correct, supported by the oldest and best uncials. (Aleph, A B D W). C has a lacuna here. Plummer justly notes how in this angelic hymn Glory and Peace correspond, in the highest and on earth, to God and among men of goodwill. It would be possible to connect “on earth” with “the highest” and also to have a triple division. There has been much objection raised to the genitive ευδοκιας eudokias the correct text. But it makes perfectly good sense and better sense. As a matter of fact real peace on earth exists only among those who are the subjects of God‘s goodwill, who are characterized by goodwill toward God and man. This word ευδοκια eudokia we have already had in Matthew 11:26. It does not occur in the ancient Greek. The word is confined to Jewish and Christian writings, though the papyri furnish instances of ευδοκησις eudokēsis Wycliff has it “to men of goodwill.” [source]
No papyri examples of this word, though ευδοκησις eudokēsis occurs, only in lxx and N.T., but no example for “desire” unless this is one, though the verb ευδοκεω eudokeō is common in Polybius, Diodorus, Dion, Hal. It means will, pleasure, satisfaction (Matthew 11:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Philemon 1:15; Philemon 2:13; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:9). [source]
Not strictly in the sense of kindly or friendly feeling, as Luke 2:14; Philemon 1:15, but because it pleased Him, see Luke 10:21; Matthew 11:26. The other sense, however, is included and implied, and is expressed by in love. [source]