11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 (A)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[a] and the violent take it by force. 13 (B)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is (C)Elijah who is to come. 15 (D)He who has ears to hear,[b] let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came (E)neither eating (F)nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came (G)eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, (H)a friend of (I)tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”[c]

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 (J)Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:12 Or has been coming violently
  2. Matthew 11:15 Some manuscripts omit to hear
  3. Matthew 11:19 Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35)

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