Matthew 11:1-19 - A Question From John The Baptist

¹ And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. ² Now when John heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

⁴ And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is he who is not offended because of me."

⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? 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 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

¹¹ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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

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 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 drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her deeds."

¹⁸ Then the disciples of John told him about all these things. ¹⁹ And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

²⁰ When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"

²¹ At that very hour he cured many of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits, and to many that were blind he gave sight. ²² He answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the good news preached to them. ²³ And blessed is he who is not offended because of me." ²⁴ When the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

²⁹ (And when they heard him, all the people, even the tax collectors, justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

³¹ "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'

³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' ³⁵ But wisdom is justified by all her children."