Acknowledging Christ

³² “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.^{(A) 33} But whoever denies me before others,^(B) I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. ³⁴ Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^{(C) 35} For I came to turn

³⁷ The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; ^(E) the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Anyone who finds his life will lose it,^(F) and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.^(G)

A Cup of Cold Water

⁴⁰ “The one who welcomes you welcomes me,^(H) and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^{(I) 41} Anyone who welcomes a prophet^(J) because he is a prophet^[b] will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous^[c] will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives^(K) even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,^[d](L) truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

John the Baptist Doubts

11 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.^{(A) 2} Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples^{(B) 3} and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” ^(C)

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,^{(D) 6} and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”^(E)

⁷ As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?^{(F) 8} What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.^{(G) 10} This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,^[c] but the 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 suffering violence,^[d] and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.^{(I) 15} Let anyone who has ears^[e] listen.^(J)