Matthew 11:1-19
New American Standard Bible
John’s Questions
11 (A)When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there (B)to teach and [b]preach in their cities.
2 (C)Now while in prison, (D)John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You (E)the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 (F)those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the (G)poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is [e]any person who (H)does not [f]take offense at Me.”
Jesus’ Tribute to John
7 As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into (I)the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 [g]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ [h]palaces! 9 [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:
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 least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And (L)from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men 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 [l]was to come. 15 (N)The one who has ears to hear, [m]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 song of mourning, and you did not [n]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 [o]heavy drinker, (R)a friend of tax collectors and [p]sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 11:1 Or commanding
- Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim
- Matthew 11:3 Or wait for
- Matthew 11:5 Or good news
- Matthew 11:6 Lit whoever
- Matthew 11:6 Or stumble over Me
- Matthew 11:8 Or Well then,
- Matthew 11:8 Lit houses
- Matthew 11:9 Or Well then,
- Matthew 11:10 Lit has been written
- Matthew 11:10 Lit before Your face
- Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come
- Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!
- Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
- Matthew 11:19 Or wine drinker
- Matthew 11:19 I.e., irreligious Jews
Matthew 11:1-19
American Standard Version
11 And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples 3 and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have [a]good tidings preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.
7 And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. 9 [b]But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 10 This is he, of whom it is written,
[c]Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
Who shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is [d]but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye are willing to receive [e]it, this is Elijah, that is to come. 15 He that hath ears [f]to hear, let him hear. 16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows 17 and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not [g]mourn. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of [h]publicans and sinners! And wisdom [i]is justified by her [j]works.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 11:5 Or, the gospel
- Matthew 11:9 Many ancient authorities read But what went ye out to see? a prophet?
- Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1.
- Matthew 11:11 Greek lesser.
- Matthew 11:14 Or, him
- Matthew 11:15 Some ancient authorities omit to hear.
- Matthew 11:17 Greek beat the breast.
- Matthew 11:19 See marginal note on 5:46.
- Matthew 11:19 Or, was
- Matthew 11:19 Many ancient authorities read children: as in Lk. 7:35.
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