Matthew 11:2-19

Holman Christian Standard Bible

² When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples^{(A) 3} and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”^(B)

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,^[a] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.^{(C) 6} And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”^(D)

⁷ As 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?^{(E) 8} What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.^{(F) 10} This is the one it is written about:

¹¹ “I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,^[d] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,^[e] and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; ¹⁴ if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.^{(H) 15} Anyone who has ears^[f] should listen!^(I)

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:

¹⁸ For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’^{(J) 19} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,^(K) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’^(L) Yet wisdom is vindicated^[h] by her deeds.”^[i]