In Praise of John the Baptist

11 When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.^{(A) 2} When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by 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 see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,^[a] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.^{(D) 6} And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”^(E)

⁷ As these men went away, 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? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.^{(G) 10} This is the one it is written about:

¹¹ “I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,^[d] 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,^[e] and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; ¹⁴ if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.^{(I) 15} Anyone who has ears^[f] should listen!^(J)

An Unresponsive Generation

¹⁶ “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:

¹⁸ For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’^{(K) 19} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,^(L) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’^(M) Yet wisdom is vindicated^[h] by her deeds.”^[i]

²⁰ Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent: ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin!^(N) Woe to you, Bethsaida!^(O) For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,^(P) they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago! ²² But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment^(Q) than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to Hades.^(R) For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. ²⁴ But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest

²⁵ At that time Jesus said,^(S) “I praise^[j] You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.^{(T) 26} Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.^{[k] 27} All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows^[l] the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires^[m] to reveal Him.^(U)

²⁸ “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.^{(V) 29} All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me,^(W) because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.^{(X) 30} For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”