Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus^(A)

11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to ^(B)teach and to preach in their cities.

^2 (C)And when John had heard ^(D)in prison about the works of Christ, he ^[a]sent two of his disciples ³ and said to Him, “Are You ^(E)the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ^5 (F)The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and ^(G)the poor have the gospel preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is he who is not ^(H)offended because of Me.”

^7 (I)As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? ^(J)A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, ^(K)and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written:

¹¹ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ^12 (M)And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ^13 (N)For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to receive it, he is ^(O)Elijah who is to come. ^15 (P)He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

^16 (Q)“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, ¹⁷ and saying:

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 ^[c]winebibber, ^(R)a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ^(S)But wisdom is justified by her ^[d]children.”

Woe to the Impenitent Cities^(T)

^20 (U)Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago ^(V)in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I say to you, ^(W)it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, ^(X)who^[e] are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I say to you ^(Y)that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Jesus Gives True Rest^(Z)

^25 (AA)At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that ^(AB)You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent ^(AC)and have revealed them to babes. ²⁶ Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ^27 (AD)All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. ^(AE)Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ²⁸ Come to ^(AF)Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you ^(AG)and learn from Me, for I am ^[f]gentle and ^(AH)lowly in heart, ^(AI)and you will find rest for your souls. ^30 (AJ)For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

³ So He said, “Truly I say to you ^(A)that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings ^[a]for God, but she out of her poverty put in ^(B)all the livelihood that she had.”

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple^(C)

^5 (D)Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was ^[b]adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ⁶ “These things which you see—the days will come in which ^(E)not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age^(F)

⁷ So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

⁸ And He said: ^(G)“Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ ^[c]Therefore do not ^[d]go after them. ⁹ But when you hear of ^(H)wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

^10 (I)Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great ^(J)earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. ^12 (K)But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and ^(L)prisons. ^(M)You will be brought before kings and rulers ^(N)for My name’s sake. ¹³ But ^(O)it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ^14 (P)Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will ^[e]answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom ^(Q)which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or ^[f]resist. ^16 (R)You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put ^(S)some of you to death. ¹⁷ And ^(T)you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ^18 (U)But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹ By your patience possess your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem^(V)

^20 (W)“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.