Matthew 11:2-19

Living Bible

² John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the miracles the Messiah was doing, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ³ “Are you really the one we are waiting for, or shall we keep on looking?”

⁴ Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about the miracles you’ve seen me do— ⁵ the blind people I’ve healed, and the lame people now walking without help, and the cured lepers, and the deaf who hear, and the dead raised to life; and tell him about my preaching the Good News to the poor. ⁶ Then give him this message, ‘Blessed are those who don’t doubt me.’”

⁷ When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “When you went out into the barren wilderness to see John, what did you expect him to be like? Grass blowing in the wind? ⁸ Or were you expecting to see a man dressed as a prince in a palace? ⁹ Or a prophet of God? Yes, and he is more than just a prophet. ¹⁰ For John is the man mentioned in the Scriptures—a messenger to precede me, to announce my coming, and prepare people to receive me.^[a]

¹¹ “Truly, of all men ever born, none shines more brightly than John the Baptist. And yet, even the lesser lights in the Kingdom of Heaven will be greater than he is! ¹² And from the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, ardent multitudes have been crowding toward the Kingdom of Heaven,^{[b] 13} for all the laws and prophets looked forward to the Messiah.^[c] Then John appeared, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to understand what I mean, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come at the time the Kingdom begins.^{[d] 15} If ever you were willing to listen, listen now!

¹⁶ “What shall I say about this nation? These people are like children playing, who say to their little friends, ¹⁷ ‘We played wedding and you weren’t happy, so we played funeral but you weren’t sad.’ ¹⁸ For John the Baptist doesn’t even drink wine and often goes without food, and you say, ‘He’s crazy.’^{[e] 19} And I, the Messiah,^[f] feast and drink, and you complain that I am ‘a glutton and a drinking man, and hang around with the worst sort of sinners!’ But brilliant men like you can justify your every inconsistency!”