29. Jesus Speaks of John
2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of Jesus, he sent word by his disciples, 3and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see— 5that the poor have good tidings preached to them. 6And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 8A man clothed in soft raiment? Those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. 9Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare the way before you.'a 11Verily, I say to you, among those born of woman there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmate, 17'We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say he has a devil. 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!' But, wisdom is justified by her children.”
25At that time Jesus declared: “The Father, Lord of heaven and earth, has hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to babes. 28Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, and you shall find rest for your souls.”
(Mt. 11:2–11, 15–19, 25, 28–29)
a “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare the way before you.”—(Malachi 3:1) Here Jesus affirms that he (Jesus) is the one prophesied by Malachi and that John is his forerunner.
Mt. 11:2 of Jesus, he / of the Christ, he (RSV)
Mt. 11:5 that the / that the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up and the (RSV)
Mt. 11:8 A / Why then did you go out? To see a (RSV) • Those / Behold, those (RSV)
Mt. 11:10 before your face / before thy face (RSV) • prepare the way / prepare thy way (RSV) • before you / before thee (RSV)
Mt. 11:11 Verily, I (KJV) / Truly, I (RSV) • is but little in (ASV) / is least in (RSV)
Mt. 11:18 (KJV) • he has a / He hath a (KJV)
Mt. 11:19 (KJV) • a gluttonous man and / a man gluttonous and (KJV) • justified by her / justified of her (KJV)
Mt. 11:25 The Father / I thank thee, Father (RSV) • earth, has hidden / earth, that then hast hidden (RSV)
Mt. 11:29 me, and / me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart and (RSV) (135:11/1506–7; 144:8/1626–7)
