194 Wim J.C. Weren Cristou', a syntagm that is a recapitulation of the stories about Jesus’ deeds in 8,2–9,34. “Hear” and “see” in 11,4 refer back to the Sermon on the Mount and the series of stories that follow in which Jesus proves in word and in deed that he really is the Messiah. The recital in 11,5 includes allusions to Isaiah (Isa 29,18-19; 35,5-6; 61,1) but, at the same time, it is a generalizing reproduction of individual cases that are described in 8,2–9,34 (32). The concluding beatitude in 11,6 reminds us of the beatitudes in 5,3-12. In short: in 11,2-6, Jesus gives an evalua- tive review of his own ministry in answer to a question presented by John. In 11,7-19, Jesus in turn asks a question about John, that he answers himself and that he seizes upon for an evaluative review of the Baptist’s ministry. The question put three times to the people as to why they went to the desert (11,7.8.9) refers to 3,5 in combination with 3,1. John is not a man dressed in fine clothes (11,8), which fits 3,4 where he is dressed in a cloak made of camel’s hair. Jesus’ description of John in 11,10 is similar to the way in which John is presented in 3,3 by the narrator (in each case: ou|tov" ejstin, followed by a quotation from the Scriptures). John’s ministry is the last preparation for the coming of Jesus. According to 11,10, he comes ahead of Jesus (pro; proswvpou sou and emprosqen sou); this corresponds with 3,11 in which it is said [ v of Jesus that he will come after John (ojpivsw mou). The past is further structured in 11,12-13. In these verses, an attempt is made to differentiate between prediction and fulfilment. The period of fulfil- ment has begun with the coming of John. Characteristic of this period is that the kingdom has a hard time of it (biavzetai has a passive meaning: “suffer violence”) and that adversaries (biastai; has a negative connotation) try to prevent its growth. The contemporaries of Jesus and John also react in a negative way towards them (11,16-19). Matt 11,20-24 also reviews the events told earlier. That Jesus’ powerful deeds in the towns did not lead to conversion relates to the stories about his deeds in 8,2–9,34 and to his call for conversion in 4,17. Capernaum, Jesus’ own town (cf. 4,13; 8,5; 9,1), will bear the brunt. Anticipating elements are to be found in particular in 11,25-30. The time adjunct ejn ejkeivnw/ tw/' kairw/' is mentioned in 11,25 for the first (32) “The blind receive their sight”: cf. 9,27-31; “the lame walk”: cf. 9,2-8; “the lepers are cleansed”: cf. 8,2-4; “the deaf hear”: cf. 9,32-34, where a mute begins to speak; “the dead are raised” cf. 9,18-19.23-26; “the good news is brought to the poor”; cf. “the poor” in 5,3 and “the good news” in 4,23 and 9,35.