²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God^(A) is greater than he.”

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.

²⁵ I have become its servant^(A) by the commission God gave me^(B) to present to you the word of God^(C) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(D) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(E) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(F) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(G) the hope of glory.

⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^(A) For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”^(B)

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.^{(A) 17} For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see^(B) but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke^(A) of the grace that was to come to you,^(B) searched intently and with the greatest care,^{(C) 11} trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ^(D) in them was pointing when he predicted^(E) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,^(F) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you^(G) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(H) Even angels long to look into these things.

³⁹ These were all commended^(A) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(B) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(C) would they be made perfect.^(D)

⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^(A) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^(B) the boundless riches of Christ,^{(C) 9} and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^(D) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”^(A)