Matthew 11:1-19

International Children’s Bible

Jesus and John the Baptist

11 Jesus finished telling these things to his 12 followers. Then he left there and went to the towns in Galilee to teach and preach.

² John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about the things the Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus. ³ They asked Jesus, “Are you the man who John said was coming, or should we wait for another one?”

⁴ Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear and see: ⁵ The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with harmful skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the Good News is told to the poor. ⁶ The person who does not lose faith because of me is blessed.”

⁷ As John’s followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed^[a] blown by the wind? No. ⁸ Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those people who wear fine clothes live in kings’ palaces. ⁹ So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This was written about John in the Scriptures:

¹¹ I tell you the truth: John the Baptist is greater than any other man who has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. ¹² Since the time John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward in strength. People using force have been trying to take the kingdom. ¹³ All the prophets and the law of Moses spoke until the time John came. They told about the things that would happen. ¹⁴ And if you will believe the things the law and the prophets said, then you will believe that John is Elijah. The law and the prophets said he would come. ¹⁵ Let those with ears use them and listen!

¹⁶ “What can I say about the people who live today? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group calls to the other,

¹⁸ John came, and he did not eat like other people or drink wine. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came, eating and drinking wine, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much. He is a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved to be right by the things it does.”