Mat 11:2-19 | ISV | STEP | John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples

Matthew 11:2-19

2 John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus Luke 7:18-35Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, ^{▼▼I.e. the Messiah} he sent a message ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks a message} by his disciplesMatt 14:3; Luke 7:18-19 3 and asked him, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Dan 9:24; John 6:14

4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and observe: 5 the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news.Ps 22:26; Isa 29:18; 35:4-6; 42:7; 61:1; Luke 4:18; John 2:23; 3:2; 5:36; 14:11; James 2:5 6 How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”Isa 8:14-15; Matt 13:57; 24:10; 26:31; Rom 9:32-33; 1Cor 1:23; 2:14; Gal 5:11; 1Pet 2:8

7 As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?Luke 7:24; Eph 4:14 8 Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings’ houses. 9 Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!Matt 14:5; 21:26; Luke 1:76; 7:26 10 This is the man about whom it is written,Mal 3:1; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:76; 7:27

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.’ ^{▼▼Mal 3:1}

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 “From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, ^{▼▼Or has been under violent attack} and violent people have been attacking it.Luke 16:16 13 For the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John,Mal 4:6 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ^{▼▼Or is about to come}Mal 4:5; Matt 17:12; Luke 1:17 15 Let the person who has ears ^{▼▼Other mss. read ears to hear} listen!Matt 13:9; Luke 8:8; Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It's like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,Luke 7:31

17 ‘A wedding song we played for you,

the dance you did but scorn.

A woeful dirge we chanted, too,

but then you would not mourn.’

18 For John didn't come eating or drinking, yet people ^{▼▼Lit. they} say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’Matt 9:10; Luke 7:35

Absolved from every act of sin,

is wisdom by her kith and kin.” ^{▼▼Lit. by all her children; other mss. read by her actions}