Matthew 11:11

11:11 “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

Matthew 11:1

11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

Matthew 2:1

The Visit of the Wise Men

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem


tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

sn After John comes a shift of eras. The new era is so great that the lowest member of it (the one who is least in the kingdom of God) is greater than the greatest one of the previous era.

tn Grk “And it happened when.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

tn Grk “in the days.”

sn King Herod was Herod the Great, who ruled Palestine from 37 b.c. until he died in 4 b.c. He was known for his extensive building projects (including the temple in Jerusalem) and for his cruelty.

sn The Greek term magi here describes a class of wise men and priests who were astrologers (L&N 32.40).

map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.