Jesus and John the Baptist
Matthew 11When Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left that place to teach and preach in their cities.
Now when John, who was in the prison, heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus answered them, “Y’all go and tell John the things y’all hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,+Isa 35:5 the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them.+Isa 61:1-4 Blessed is the one who doesn’t stumble on account of me.”
As they were leaving, Jesus began to say to the crowd concerning John, “What did y’all go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did y’all go out to see? A human in soft clothing? Look, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did y’all go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell y’all, and much more than a prophet. For this is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’+Mal 3:1 Truly I tell y’all, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer! Yet whoever is least in the Empire of Heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Empire of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent people take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. If y’all are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
“But to what should I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions and say, ‘We played the flute for y’all, and y’all didn’t dance. We sang a dirge for y’all, and y’all didn’t mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Humanity came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look! A gluttonous human and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Unrepentant Cities Denounced
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his miracles had been done, because they didn’t repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in y’all had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell y’all, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for y’all. You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. But I tell y’all that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”
The Father and Son’s Relationship
At that time, Jesus answered, “I publicly acknowledge you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in your sight. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
“Y’all come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give y’all rest. Take my yoke upon y’all and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and y’all will find rest for your* souls. For my yoke is kind, and my burden is light.”