Matthew 11

¹After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

²Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples

³to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

⁴Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

⁵The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

⁶Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

⁷As John’s disciples were leaving, 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?

⁸Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.

⁹What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

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

¹²From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.