Jesus and John the Baptist
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his
twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2 When John, who was in prison,
heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples
3 to ask him, “Are you the
one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.
6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account
of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
8 If not, what
did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes
are in kings’ palaces.
9 Then what did you go out
to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom
it is written:
“‘I
will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[c]
11
Truly
I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John
the Baptist; yet whoever 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 been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it.
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 was to come.
15
Whoever
has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this
generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to
others:
17
“‘We
played the pipe 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, ‘Here is a glutton
and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right
by her deeds.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
- Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated
leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
- Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
- Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
