In Praise of John the Baptist

1When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.a 2When John heard in prison what the •Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciplesb 3and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else? ”c

4Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,d the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.e 6And if anyone is not •offended because of Me, he is blessed.”f

7As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?g 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.h 10This is the one it is written about:

Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;i

he will prepare Your way before You.j,k

11“•I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,l but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,m and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; 14if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.n 15Anyone who has earso should listen!p

An Unresponsive Generation

16“To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:

17We played the flute for you,

but you didn’t dance;

we sang a lament,

but you didn’t mourn!q

18For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon! ’r 19The •Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,s a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’t Yet wisdom is vindicatedu by her deeds.”v

20Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent: 21“Woe to you, Chorazin!w Woe to you, Bethsaida!x For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,y they would have repented in •sackcloth and ashes long ago! 22But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgmentz than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to •Hades.aa For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest

25At that time Jesus said,ab “I praiseac You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.ad 26Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.ae 27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knowsaf the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desiresag to reveal Him.ah

28“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.ai 29All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me,aj because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.ak 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”