1Jesus finished teaching his 12 disciples. Then he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.2John the Baptist was in prison. When he heard about the actions of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him.3They asked Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?’4Jesus replied, ‘Go back to John. Report to him what you hear and see.5Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are made “clean”. Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor.6Blessed is anyone who does not give up their faith because of me.’7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, ‘What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind?8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. People who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.10He is the one written about in Scripture. It says, ‘ “I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way for you.” (Mal 3:1)11What I’m about to tell you is true. No one more important than John the Baptist has ever been born. But the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is more important than he is.12Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack. And violent people are taking hold of it.13All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came.14If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come.15Whoever has ears should listen.16‘What can I compare today’s people to? They are like children sitting in the markets and calling out to others. They say,17‘ “We played the flute for you. But you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song. But you didn’t become sad.”18When John came, he didn’t eat or drink as you do. And people say, “He has a demon.”19But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And people say, “This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners’. ” By wise actions wisdom is shown to be right.’
Towns that do not turn away from sin
20Jesus began to speak against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins. So he said,21‘How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes.22But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you.23And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today.24But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.’
Rest for all who are tired
25At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children.26Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.27‘My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.28‘Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.29Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls.30Serving me is easy, and my load is light.’
Matthew 11
English Standard Version
Messengers from John the Baptist
1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples (Mt 1:17; Mt 4:12; Mt 9:14; Mt 14:3; Lu 7:18)3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Lu 3:15; Joh 4:25; Joh 6:14; Joh 11:27)4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[1] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Mt 5:3; Lu 4:18; Lu 7:22; Jas 2:5)6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Isa 8:14; Joh 6:61)7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (Mt 3:1; Lu 1:80; Eph 4:14; Jas 1:6)8What then did you go out to see? A man[2] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.9What then did you go out to see? A prophet?[3] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (Mt 14:5; Mt 21:26; Lu 1:76)10This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ (Mal 3:1; Mr 1:2)11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[4] and the violent take it by force. (Lu 16:16)13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, (Mt 11:12)14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. (Mal 4:5; Mt 17:10; Mr 9:11; Lu 1:17; Joh 1:21)15He who has ears to hear,[5] let him hear. (Mt 13:9; Mt 13:43; Lu 8:8; Lu 14:35)16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,17“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ (Mt 3:4; Mr 1:6; Lu 1:15)19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”[6] (Mt 9:10; Mt 9:11; Mt 18:17; Lu 7:36; Lu 14:1; Lu 15:2; Lu 19:7; Joh 2:1; Joh 12:2)
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
20Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. (Ps 81:11; Isa 1:2)21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (Eze 28:2; Am 1:9; Mt 15:21; Mr 3:8; Lu 10:12)22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. (Mt 11:21; Lu 12:47; Ac 17:31)23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Isa 14:13; Mt 16:18; Lu 16:23; Ac 2:27)24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” (Mt 10:15; Mt 11:22)