1 After finishing these instructions to his twelve disciples, Jesus removed from there to teach and preach among their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, "Are you the Coming One? Or are we to look out for someone else?"
4 Jesus answered them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. 6 And blessed is he who is repelled by nothing in me!"
7 As the disciples of John went away, Jesus proceeded to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 Come, what did you go out to see? A man arrayed in soft raiment? The wearers of soft raiment are in royal palaces. 9 Come, why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, Here I send my messenger before your face to prepare the way for you.
11 I tell you truly, no one has arisen among the sons of women who is greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the Realm of heaven is greater than he is. 12 From the days of John the Baptist till now the Realm of heaven suffers violence, and the violent press into it. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied of it until John: ??14 if you care to believe it, he is the Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has an ear, let him listen to this.
16 But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace, who call to their playmates,
17 'We piped to you and you would not dance, we lamented and you would not beat your breasts.'
18 For John has come neither eating nor drinking, and men say, 'He has a devil'; 19 the Son of man has come eating and drinking, and men say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of taxgatherers and sinners!' Nevertheless, Wisdom is vindicated by all that she does."
20 Then he proceeded to upbraid the towns where his many miracles had been performed, because they would not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Khorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Had the miracles performed in you been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 I tell you this, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, O Capharnahum! Exalted to heaven? No, you will sink to Hades! ??for if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Sodom, Sodom would have lasted to this day. 24 I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
25 At that time Jesus spoke and said, "I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding all this from the wise and learned and revealing it to the simpleminded; 26 yes, Father, I praise thee that such was thy chosen purpose. 27 All has been handed over to me by my Father: and no one knows the Son except the Father ??nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all who are labouring and burdened, and I will refresh you. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find your souls refreshed; 30 my yoke is kindly and my burden light."