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Matthew 11:2-19
International Standard Version
Matthew 11:2-19
International Standard Version
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus(A)
2 Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah,[a] he sent a message[b] 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.’[c]
11 I tell all of you[d] 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[e] heaven is greater than he.
12 “From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from[f] 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.[g] 15 Let the person who has ears[h] listen!
16 “To what can I compare the people living today? They’re[i] 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[j] 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.”[k]
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:2 Or Christ
- Matthew 11:2 The Gk. lacks a message
- Matthew 11:10 Cf. Mal 3:1
- Matthew 11:11 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Matthew 11:11 Lit. of
- Matthew 11:12 Lit. of
- Matthew 11:14 Or is about to come
- Matthew 11:15 Other mss. read ears to hear
- Matthew 11:16 Lit. compare this generation? It’s
- Matthew 11:18 Lit. they
- Matthew 11:19 Lit. by all her children; other mss. read by her actions
Matthew 11:2-19
New International Version
Matthew 11:2-19
New International Version
2 When John,(A) who was in prison,(B) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(C) 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[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(D) 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(E)
7 As John’s(F) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(G) 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?(H) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
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,[c] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(K) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(L) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(M)
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(N) nor drinking,(O) 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.’(P) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Footnotes
- 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
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.