Study Desk

When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.^(a)

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples^(b)

and asked Him, "Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"^(c)

Jesus replied to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see:

the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,^[a] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.^(d)

And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed." ^(e)

As these men went away, 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?^(f)

What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings' palaces.

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.^(g)

This is the one it is written about: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; ^[b] he will prepare Your way before You. ^(h)[c]

"I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,^[d] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,^[e] and the violent have been seizing it by force.

For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John;

if you're willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.⁽ⁱ⁾

Anyone who has ears^[f] should listen! ^(j)

"To what should I compare this generation? It's like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:

We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a lament, but you didn't mourn! ^[g]

For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!'^(k)

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,^(l) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'^(m) Yet wisdom is vindicated^[h] by her deeds." ^[i]