And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

MATTHEW 11:6KJV
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Matthew 11:6 (KJV)

What does Matthew 11:6 mean?

Matthew 11:6 says that anyone who does not take offense at Jesus is blessed. In other words, those who accept Jesus and his message, rather than rejecting or stumbling over him, are considered fortunate or favored.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the crowd about John the Baptist, but he is also indirectly sending a message to John, who is in prison and has sent messengers to ask if Jesus is truly the one they were waiting for. Jesus is encouraging people not to be put off by the unexpected way he fulfills his role, even if he does not meet their expectations.

The Greek behind Matthew 11:6

  • "Blessed" (μακάριος, makarios) means more than just "happy"; it carries the sense of being truly fortunate or favored by God, often in a spiritual sense.
  • "Offended" (σκανδαλισθῇ, skandalisthē) comes from a word meaning "to stumble" or "to trip up." Here, it refers to being caused to reject or fall away from Jesus because of who he is or what he does.
  • "In me" (ἐν ἐμοί, en emoi) points directly to Jesus himself, emphasizing that the blessing is for those who are not tripped up specifically by him—his identity, actions, or teaching.

Why Matthew 11:6 matters

  • Matthew 11:6 clears up the idea that following Jesus would always be easy or fit people’s expectations; Jesus warns that some may be tempted to reject him because he does not act as they anticipated.
  • This verse highlights that true blessing comes from trusting Jesus even when he challenges our assumptions or disappoints our hopes.
  • Matthew 11:6 connects to the wider passage where Jesus is responding to John the Baptist’s doubts, showing compassion for honest questions but also calling for faith in the face of uncertainty.

Where else these words appear

“shall” Greek G4624 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
  • Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

“blessed” Greek G3107 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
  • Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

“not” Greek G3362 · used in 59 verses

  • Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
  • John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
  • Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

“me” Greek G1698 · used in 87 verses

  • Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
  • John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.