² John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about ·what Christ was doing [or the deeds/actions of the Messiah]. So John sent some of his ·followers [disciples] to Jesus. ³ They asked him, “Are you the ·One who is to come [Expected One; ^Cthe Messiah], or should we ·wait for [look for; expect] someone else?”

⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go ·tell [report to] John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind can see, the ·crippled [lame] can walk, and ·people with skin diseases [^Tlepers; see 8:2] are ·healed [^Lcleansed]. The deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the ·Good News [Gospel] is preached to the poor [^Csigns of God’s restoration of creation, predicted by the prophet Isaiah; Is. 29:18–19; 35:5–6; 61:1–2]. ⁶ Those who ·do not stumble in their faith [are not offended] because of me are blessed.”

⁷ As ·John’s followers [^Lthey] were leaving, Jesus began talking to the ·people [crowds] about John. Jesus said, “What did you go out into the ·desert [wilderness] to see? A reed ·blown by [shaken by; swaying in] the wind [^Ca metaphor for something weak or wavering]? ⁸ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in ·fine [expensive] clothes? No, those who wear ·fine [expensive; ^Lsoft] clothes ·live [are found] in kings’ ·palaces [houses]. ⁹ So why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This was written about him:

¹¹ I tell you the truth, John the Baptist is greater than any other person ·ever born [^Lborn to women], but even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John [^Cbecause John prepares for, but does not fully participate in the blessings of the kingdom]. ¹² ·Since the time [^LFrom the days] John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been ·going forward in strength [advancing forcefully; or subject to violence; suffering violent attacks], and ·forceful [or violent] people have been trying to ·take it by force [lay hold of it; or attack it]. ¹³ All the prophets and the law of Moses ·told about what would happen [^Lprophesied] until ·the time John came [^LJohn]. ¹⁴ And if you ·will believe what they said, you will believe that John is Elijah [^Lare willing to accept it, he is Elijah], whom they said would come. ¹⁵ ·Let those with ears use them and listen[^LThe one who has ears to hear, let him hear]!

¹⁶ “·What can I say about the people of this time? What are they like? [^LTo what shall I compare this generation?] They are like children sitting in the marketplace, who call out to each other,

¹⁸ [^LFor] John came and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, ‘He ·has [is possessed by] a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! ·He eats too much and drinks too much wine [^LHe’s a glutton and a drunkard], and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is ·proved to be right [vindicated] by ·what she does [or its deeds/actions/results; ^CWisdom is personified as a woman (Prov. 8), her “children” being those who respond favorably to the message of John and Jesus].”