English Standard Version

New Living Translation

Messengers from John the Baptist

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

1

Jesus and John the Baptist

When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.

2

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

2

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,

3

and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

3

“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,a or should we keep looking for someone else?”

4

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

4

Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen —

5

the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepersa are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

5

the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

6

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

6

And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.b”

7

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

7

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?

8

What then did you go out to see? A manb dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

8

Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.

9

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

9

Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.

10

This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

10

John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.’c

11

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

11

“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

12

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,d and the violent take it by force.

12

And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,d and violent people are attacking it.

13

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

13

For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.

14

and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

14

And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.e

15

He who has ears to hear,e let him hear.

15

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

16

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

16

“To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

17

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

17

‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t mourn.’

18

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

18

For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’

19

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”f

19

The Son of Man,f on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

20

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

20

Judgment for the Unbelievers

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.

21

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

21

“What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.

22

But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

22

I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

23

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

23

“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.g For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.

24

But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

24

I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”

25

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

25

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

26

yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.g

26

Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

27

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

27

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

28

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

29

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

30

For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Parallel

English Standard Version

New Living Translation

Matthew 11

Matthew 11