aWhen Jesus
had finished
1giving
instructions
to His twelve
disciples
, He departed
from there
bto teach
and 2preach
in their cities
.
aNow when bJohn
, 1while
imprisoned
, heard
of the works
of Christ
, he sent
word by his disciples
and said to Him, "Are You athe 1Expected
One, or
shall we look
for someone
else
?"
Jesus answered
and said
to them, "Go
and report
to John
what
you hear
and see
:
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.
"And blessed is he 1who
adoes not 2take
offense
at Me."
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
?
" 1But what did you go
out to see
? A man
dressed
in soft
clothing? Those
who wear
soft
clothing are in kings'
2palaces
!
" 1But what did you go
out to see
? aA prophet
? Yes
, I tell
you, and one who is more
than a prophet
.
"This is the one about
whom
it 1is written
, ` aBEHOLD
, I SEND
MY MESSENGER
2AHEAD OF YOU, WHO
WILL PREPARE
YOUR WAY
BEFORE
YOU.'
"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.
" aFrom the days of John
the Baptist
until
now
the kingdom
of heaven
1suffers
violence
, and violent
men
2take
it by force
.
"For all the prophets
and the Law
prophesied
until
John
.
"And if you are willing
to accept
it, John himself
is aElijah
who 1was to come
.
" aHe who has ears
to hear
, 1let him hear
.
"But to what shall I compare
this
generation
? It is like
children
sitting
in the market
places
, who
call
out to the other
children,
and say, `We played
the flute
for you, and you did not dance
; we sang
a dirge
, and you did not 1mourn
.'
"For John came
neither
aeating
nor
bdrinking
, and they say
, ` cHe has
a demon
!'
"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
by her deeds
."
Then He began
to denounce
the cities
in which
most
of His 1 amiracles
were done
, because
they did not repent
.
" aWoe to you, Chorazin
! Woe
to you, bBethsaida
! For if
the 1miracles
had occurred
in cTyre
and cSidon
which occurred
in you, they would have repented
long
ago
in 2 dsackcloth
and ashes
.
"Nevertheless I say
to you, ait will be more
tolerable
for Tyre
and Sidon
in bthe day
of judgment
than
for you.
"And you, aCapernaum, will not be exalted
to heaven
, will you? You will bdescend
to cHades
; for if
the 1miracles
had occurred
in dSodom
which occurred
in you, it would have remained
to this
day
.
"Nevertheless I say
to you that ait will be more
tolerable
for the land
of bSodom
in the day
of judgment
, than
for you."
aAt that 1time Jesus
said
, "I praise
You, bFather
, Lord
of heaven
and earth
, that cYou have hidden
these
things
from the wise
and intelligent
and have revealed
them to infants
.
"Yes, aFather
, for this
way
was well-pleasing
in Your sight
.
" aAll 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
bexcept
the Son
, and anyone to whom
the Son
wills
to reveal
Him.
" aCome to Me, all
1who are weary
and heavy-laden
, and I will give
you rest
.
"Take My yoke
upon you and alearn
from Me, for I am
gentle
and humble
in heart
, and bYOU WILL FIND
REST
FOR YOUR SOULS
.
"For aMy yoke is 1easy
and My burden
is light
."