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.

(C)Now while in prison, (D)John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, “Are You (E)the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: (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. And blessed is [e]any person who (H)does not [f]take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

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? [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! [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 am sending 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 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Or commanding
  2. Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim
  3. Matthew 11:3 Or wait for
  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 11:14 Or is going to come
  13. Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!
  14. Matthew 11:17 Lit beat the breast
  15. Matthew 11:19 Or wine drinker
  16. Matthew 11:19 I.e., irreligious Jews

11 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

Messengers from John the Baptist

When John heard in prison what the Messiah[a] was doing, he sent word by his[b] disciples(A) and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”(B) Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.(C) And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”(D)

Jesus Praises John the Baptist

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?(E) What, then, did you go out to see? Someone[c] dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet?[d] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.(F) 10 This is the one about whom it is written,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’(G)

11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet 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 suffered violence,[e] and violent people take it by force.(H) 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.(I) 15 Let anyone with ears[f] listen!(J)

16 “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”[g](K)

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Footnotes

  1. 11.2 Or the Christ
  2. 11.2 Other ancient authorities read two of his
  3. 11.8 Or Why, then, did you go out? To see someone
  4. 11.9 Other ancient authorities read Why, then, did you go out? To see a prophet?
  5. 11.12 Or has been coming violently
  6. 11.15 Other ancient authorities add to hear
  7. 11.19 Other ancient authorities read children