²⁸ For I say to you, among those born of women there is ^[a]not a ^(A)greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

¹¹ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

²⁵ of which I became a minister according to ^(A)the ^[a]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, ^26 (B)the ^[b]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, ^(C)but now has been revealed to His saints. ^27 (D)To them God willed to make known what are ^(E)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: ^[c]which is ^(F)Christ in you, ^(G)the hope of glory.

⁴⁸ and said to them, ^(A)“Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and ^(B)whoever receives Me ^(C)receives Him who sent Me. ^(D)For he who is least among you all will be great.”

¹⁶ But ^(A)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; ¹⁷ for assuredly, I say to you ^(B)that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, ^(A)the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to ^[a]us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which ^(B)angels desire to look into.

³⁹ And all these, ^(A)having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be ^(B)made perfect apart from us.

Purpose of the Mystery

⁸ To me, ^(A)who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ^(B)the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all see what is the ^[a]fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who ^(C)created all things ^[b]through Jesus Christ;

²³ Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, ^(A)“Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; ²⁴ for I tell you ^(B)that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”