New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.

1When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,

2Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

3“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

3and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?"

4Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—

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

5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

5the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.

6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me. ”

6"And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?

7As these men were going away, 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 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.

8"But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces!

9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.

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

10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’

10"This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

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 least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.

12"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.

13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.

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

14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.

14"And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

15"He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

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

17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’

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

18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’

18"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!'

19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Judgment for the Unbelievers

19"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.

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

21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.

21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

22"Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.

23"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.

24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

24"Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."

25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

26"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

27"All 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 except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org