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

¹ When Jesus had concluded His instructions to His twelve disciples, He left in order to teach and to proclaim His Message in the neighbouring towns. ² Now John had heard in prison about the Christ's doings, and he sent some of his disciples to inquire: ³ "Are you the Coming One, or is it a different person that we are to expect?"

⁴ "Go and report to John what you see and hear," replied Jesus; ⁵ "blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf ears hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them; ⁶ and blessed is every one who does not stumble and fall because of my claims."

⁷ When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Those who wear luxurious clothes are to be found in kings' palaces. ⁹ But 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, "'See I am sending My messenger before Thy face, and he will make Thy road ready before Thee.'

¹¹ "I solemnly tell you that among all of woman born no greater has ever been raised up than John the Baptist; yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he. ¹² But from the time of John the Baptist till now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been suffering violent assault, and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law taught until John. ¹⁴ And (if you are willing to receive it) ¹⁵ Listen, every one who has ears!

¹⁶ "But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places, who call to their playmates.

¹⁷ "'We have played the flute to you,' they say, 'and you have not danced: we have sung dirges, and you have not beaten your breasts.'

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 exclaim, 'See this man! --given to gluttony and tippling, and a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions."

¹⁸ John's disciples brought him an account of all these things; ¹⁹ so John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord. "Are you the Coming One?" he asked, "or is there another that we are to expect?"

²⁰ The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the Coming One, or is there another that we are to expect?'"

²¹ He immediately cured many of diseases, severe pain, and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave the gift of sight. ²² Then He answered the messengers, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. Blind men receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are purified, deaf persons hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them. ²³ And blessed is every one who does not stumble and fall because of my claims." ²⁴ When John's messengers were gone, He proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind? ²⁵ But what did you go out to see? A man wearing luxurious clothes? People who are gorgeously dressed and live in luxury are found in palaces. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Aye, I tell you, and far more than a Prophet. ²⁷ John is the man about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending My messenger before thy face, and he shall make ready thy way before thee.'

²⁸ "I tell you that among all of women born there is not one greater than John. Yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.

²⁹ And all the people, including the tax-gatherers, when they listened to him upheld the righteousness of God, by being baptized with John's baptism. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and expounders of the Law have frustrated God's purpose as to their own lives, by refusing to be baptized.

³¹ "To what then shall I compare the men of the present generation, and what do they resemble? ³² They are like children sitting in the public square and calling out to one another, 'We have played the flute to you, and you have not danced: we have sung dirges, and you have not shown sorrow.'

³³ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!' ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, there is a man who is overfond of eating and drinking--he is a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!' ³⁵ But wisdom is justified by all who are truly wise."