Add parallel Print Page Options

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus(A)

Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah,[a] he sent a message[b] by his disciples and asked him, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and observe: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”

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? Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings’ houses. 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]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:2 Or Christ
  2. Matthew 11:2 The Gk. lacks a message
  3. Matthew 11:10 Cf. Mal 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:11 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  5. Matthew 11:11 Lit. of
  6. Matthew 11:12 Lit. of
  7. Matthew 11:14 Or is about to come
  8. Matthew 11:15 Other mss. read ears to hear
  9. Matthew 11:16 Lit. compare this generation? It’s
  10. Matthew 11:18 Lit. they
  11. Matthew 11:19 Lit. by all her children; other mss. read by her actions