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

¹ When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns. ² Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples ³ and asked him, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?"

⁴ Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and observe: ⁵ the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. ⁶ How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!"

⁷ As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings' houses. ⁹ Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! ¹⁰ This is the man about whom it is written, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'

¹¹ I tell all of you with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from heaven is greater than he. ¹² "From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it, ¹³ because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John. ¹⁴ If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ Let the person who has ears listen!

¹⁶ "To what can I compare the people living today? They're like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,

¹⁷ "A wedding song we played for you, the dance you all did scorn. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.'

¹⁸ Because John didn't come eating or drinking, yet people say, "He has a demon!' ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Absolved from every act of sin, is wisdom by her kith and kin."

¹⁸ John's disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples ¹⁹ and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?"

²⁰ When the men had come to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?'"

²¹ At that time Jesus had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. ²² So he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. ²³ How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!" ²⁴ When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to ask the crowds about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look! Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! ²⁷ This is the man about whom it is written, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'

²⁸ I tell you, no one has ever been born who is greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

²⁹ By having been baptized with John's baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God's justice. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God's plan for themselves by refusing to be baptized by John.

³¹ Jesus continued, "To what may I compare the people living today? ³² They're like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, "A wedding song we played for you, the dance you all did scorn. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.'

³³ Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, "He has a demon!' ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Look! He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' ³⁵ Wisdom is vindicated by all her children."