^16 (A)“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then ^(B)the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and ^(C)everyone forces his way into it.^[a]

⁹ What then did you go out to see? ^(A)A prophet?^[a] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it is written,

¹¹ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ^12 (C)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,^[b] and the violent take it by force. ^13 (D)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is ^(E)Elijah who is to come.

³² For John came to you ^(A)in the way of righteousness, and ^(B)you did not believe him, but ^(C)the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward ^(D)change your minds and believe him.

²⁴ And ^(A)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. ^25 (B)You are the sons of the prophets and of ^(C)the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ^(D)‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’