Jesus and John the Baptist^(A)

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,^(B) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.^[a]

² When John,^(C) who was in prison,^(D) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,^(E) or should we expect someone else?”

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.^{(F) 6} Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”^(G)

⁷ As John’s^(H) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness^(I) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?^(J) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ Truly 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. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,^[d] and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.^{(M) 14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.^{(N) 15} Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(O)

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(A) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(B) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(C)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(D) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(E) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(F)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(G) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(H) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(I) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(J) who does not change^(K) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(L) through the word of truth,^(M) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(N) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters,^(O) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(P) and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger^(Q) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(R) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(S) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(T) 23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,^(U) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(V)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(W) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(X) orphans and widows^(Y) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(Z)