Matthew 11:2-19 — Legacy Standard Bible

²^aNow when ^bJohn in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³and said to Him, “Are You ^athe One who is to come, or shall we look for someone else?” ⁴And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵^athe blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the ^bpoor have the ¹gospel preached to them. ⁶“And blessed is he ¹who ^adoes not ²take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John the Baptist

⁷Now as these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into ^athe wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸“¹But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ ²palaces! ⁹“¹But what did you go out to see? ^aA prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ¹⁰“This is the one about whom it ¹is written, ‘^aBehold, I send My messenger ²ahead of You,Who will prepare Your way before You.’

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 ¹least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹²“^aAnd from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven ¹suffers violence, and violent men ²take it by force. ¹³“For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴“And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is ^aElijah who ¹was to come. ¹⁵“^aHe who has ears to hear, ¹let him hear.

¹⁶“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, ¹⁷and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not ¹mourn.’ ¹⁸“For John came neither ^aeating nor ^bdrinking, and they say, ‘^cHe has a demon!’ ¹⁹“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ¹drunkard, ^aa friend of tax collectors and ²sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated ³by her deeds.”