11

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

¹Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to ⚓teach and to preach in their cities.
²⚓And when John had heard ⚓in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples ³and said to Him, “Are You ⚓the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
⁴Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ⁵⚓The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and ⚓the poor have the gospel preached to them. ⁶And blessed is he who is not ⚓offended because of Me.”
⁷⚓As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? ⚓A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, ⚓and more than a prophet. ¹⁰For this is he of whom it is written:
⚓‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
¹¹“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹²⚓And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³⚓For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴And if you are willing to receive it, he is ⚓Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵⚓He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
¹⁶⚓“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, ¹⁷and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, ⚓a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ⚓But wisdom is justified by her children.”

Woe to the Impenitent Cities

²⁰⚓Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago ⚓in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I say to you, ⚓it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³And you, Capernaum, ⚓who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴But I say to you ⚓that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Jesus Gives True Rest

²⁵⚓At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that ⚓You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent ⚓and have revealed them to babes. ²⁶Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ²⁷⚓All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. ⚓Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ²⁸Come to ⚓Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you ⚓and learn from Me, for I am gentle and ⚓lowly in heart, ⚓and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰⚓For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

11

Jesus and John the Baptist

¹After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.⚓
²When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
⁴Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy⚓are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
⁷As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written:
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’⚓
¹¹Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹²From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,⚓and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵Whoever has ears, let them hear.
¹⁶“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
¹⁷“ ‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns

²⁰Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.⚓For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The Father Revealed in the Son

²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
²⁷“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”