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Questions from John the Baptist

11 [a](A)Now it happened that when Jesus had finished [b]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there (B)to teach and [c]preach in their cities.

(C)Now when (D)John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You (E)the One who is to come, or shall we look for someone else?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: (F)the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the (G)poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. And blessed is he [e]who (H)does not [f]take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John the Baptist

Now as these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into (I)the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [g]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ [h]palaces! [i]But what did you go out to see? (J)A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it [j]is written,

(K)Behold, I send My messenger [k]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is [l]least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 (L)And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven [m]suffers violence, and violent men [n]take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is (M)Elijah who [o]was to come. 15 (N)He who has ears to hear, [p]let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not [q]mourn.’ 18 For John came neither (O)eating nor (P)drinking, and they say, ‘(Q)He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a [r]drunkard, (R)a friend of tax collectors and [s]sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated [t]by her deeds.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Lit And
  2. Matthew 11:1 Or commanding
  3. Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim
  4. Matthew 11:5 Or good news
  5. Matthew 11:6 Lit whoever
  6. Matthew 11:6 Or stumble over Me
  7. Matthew 11:8 Or Well then,
  8. Matthew 11:8 Lit houses
  9. Matthew 11:9 Or Well then,
  10. Matthew 11:10 Lit has been written
  11. Matthew 11:10 Lit before your face
  12. Matthew 11:11 Or less
  13. Matthew 11:12 Or is forcibly entered
  14. Matthew 11:12 Or seize it for themselves
  15. Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come
  16. Matthew 11:15 Or hear!, listen!; Gr imperative
  17. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
  18. Matthew 11:19 Or wine-drinker
  19. Matthew 11:19 Irreligious Jews
  20. Matthew 11:19 Or from

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]

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

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 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) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(G)

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? 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. 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:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,(K)
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c](L)

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)

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating(P) nor drinking,(Q) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(R) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
  2. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing