^2 (A)Now while in prison, ^(B)John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, ³ and said to Him, “Are You ^(C)the Coming One, or are we to ^[a]look for someone else?” ⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ^5 (D)those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the ^(E)poor have the ^[b]gospel preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is ^[c]any person who ^(F)does not ^[d]take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

⁷ As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into ^(G)the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ^8 [e]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ ^[f]palaces! ^9 [g]But what did you go out to see? ^(H)A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it ^[h]is written:

¹¹ Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And ^(J)from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is ^(K)Elijah who ^[j]was to come. ^15 (L)The one who has ears to hear, ^[k]let him hear.

¹⁶ “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, ¹⁷ and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not ^[l]mourn.’ ¹⁸ For John came neither ^(M)eating nor ^(N)drinking, and they say, ‘^(O)He has a demon!’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ^[m]heavy drinker, ^(P)a friend of tax collectors and ^[n]sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The Messengers from John

^18 (A)The disciples of John also reported to him about all these things. ¹⁹ And after summoning ^[a]two of his disciples, John sent them to ^(B)the Lord, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to ^[b]look for another?” ²⁰ When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, ^[c]to ask, ‘Are You the Coming One, or are we to ^[d]look for another?’” ²¹ At that very ^[e]time He ^(C)cured many people of diseases and ^(D)afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. ²² And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were ^(E)blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and ^(F)people who are poor have the gospel preached to them. ²³ And blessed is ^[f]anyone who does not take offense at Me.”

²⁴ When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the ^[g]wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ^25 [h]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

²⁸ I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is ^[j]least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ²⁹ When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged ^(H)God’s justice, ^(I)having been baptized with ^(J)the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the ^[k](K)lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by ^[l]John.

³¹ “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not weep.’ ³³ For John the Baptist has come neither ^(L)eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ^[m]heavy drinker, a friend of tax collectors and ^[n]sinners!’ ³⁵ And yet wisdom ^(M)is vindicated by all her children.”

Jesus Begins His Ministry

¹² Now when Jesus heard that ^(A)John had been taken into custody, ^(B)He withdrew into Galilee;