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

¹ And when Jesus had finished his charge to his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities. ² AND John hearing in the prison of the works of Christ, sending by his disciples, ³ said to him, Are you he that was coming, or look we for another?

⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John what you see and hear; ⁵ the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them; ⁶ and blessed is he that is not offended with me.

⁷ And when they had gone, Jesus began to say to the multitudes, concerning John, What went you out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? ⁸ But what went you out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Behold, they that wear fine clothes are in the houses of kings. ⁹ But what went you 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, to prepare your way before you.

¹¹ I tell you truly, there has not arisen among those born of woman a greater than John the Baptist; but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist till now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied till John. ¹⁴ And if you will receive it, this is Elijah, who was to come. ¹⁵ He that has ears, let him hear.

¹⁶ To what shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets, who call to their companions,

¹⁷ and say, We have played on pipes for you, and you have not danced; we have mourned, and you have not lamented.

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, Behold a glutton, and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children.

¹⁸ And his disciples told John of all these things. ¹⁹ And calling two of his disciples, John sent to the Lord, saying, Are you he that was to come, or look we for another?

²⁰ And coming to him the men said, John the Baptist has sent us to you to say, Are you he that was to come, or look we for another?

²¹ And in that hour he cured many of diseases, and plagues, and of evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind. ²² And Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard; that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them; ²³ and blessed is he who shall not be offended with me. ²⁴ And when the messengers of John had gone away, he said to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with a wind? ²⁵ But what went you out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Behold, those who wear fine clothes, and live in luxury, are in royal palaces. ²⁶ But what went you 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 shall prepare your way before you.

²⁸ I tell you, that among those born of women there is no greater prophet than John; but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

²⁹ And all the people who heard this, and the publicans, justified God, having received the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God as to themselves, not having been baptized by him.

³¹ [And he said], To what then shall I compare the men of this generation? and what are they like? ³² They are like little children sitting in the market, and they call to each other, saying, We have played on pipes to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not lamented.

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 wine drinker! a friend of publicans and sinners! ³⁵ And Wisdom is justified by all her children.