CHAPTER 11

Questions from John the Baptist

1 1aNow it happened that when Jesus had finished 2giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there bto teach and 3preach in their cities.

2 aNow when bJohn in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

3 and said to Him, “Are You athe One who is to come, or shall we look for someone else?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:

5 athe blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the bpoor have the 1gospel preached to them.

6 “And blessed is he 1who adoes not 2take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John the Baptist

7 Now as these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into athe wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 “1But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ 2palaces!

9 “1But what did you go out to see? aA prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.

10 “This is the one about whom it 1is written,

‘aBehold, I send My messenger 2ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is 1least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 “aAnd from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven 1suffers violence, and violent men 2take it by force.

13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is aElijah who 1was to come.

15 “aHe who has ears to hear, 1let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children,

17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not 1mourn.’

18 “For John came neither aeating nor bdrinking, and they say, ‘cHe has a demon!’

19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a 1drunkard, aa friend of tax collectors and 2sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated 3by her deeds.”

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His 1amiracles were done, because they did not repent.

21 “aWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, bBethsaida! For if the 1miracles had occurred in cTyre and dSidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in 2esackcloth and ashes.

22 “Nevertheless I say to you, ait will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in bthe day of judgment than for you.

23 “And aCapernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will bdescend to cHades; for if the 1miracles had occurred in dSodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.

24 “Nevertheless I say to you that ait will be more tolerable for the land of bSodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Come to Me

25 aAt that 1time Jesus said, “I praise You, bFather, Lord of heaven and earth, that cYou have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

26 “Yes, aFather, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

27 “aAll things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father bexcept the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28 “aCome to Me, all 1who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

29 “Take My yoke upon you and alearn from Me, for I am 1gentle and humble in heart, and byou will find rest for your souls.

30 “For aMy yoke is 1easy and My burden is light.”