Matthew 11:1-19

11When Jesus had finished 2giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there 3to teach and 4preach in their cities.

25Now when 6John, 7while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to Him, “Are You 8the 9Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 510the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the 11poor have the 12gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he 13who 14does not 15take offense at Me.”

7As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into 16the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 817But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ 18palaces! 919But what did you go out to see? 20A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it 21is written, ‘22Behold, I send My messenger 23ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is 24least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 1225From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven 26suffers violence, and violent men 27take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is 28Elijah who 29was to come. 1530He who has ears to hear, 31let him hear.

16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not 32mourn.’ 18For John came neither 33eating nor 34drinking, and they say, ‘35He has a demon!’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a 36drunkard, 37a friend of tax collectors and 38sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”