^aWhen Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there ^bto teach and to preach in their Galilean cities.

2 ^aNow when ^1bJohn the Baptist in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples Luke 7:18-35 3 and asked Him, “Are You ^athe Expected One (the Messiah) , or should we look for someone else who will be the promised One?” Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Ps 40:7; 118:26; Is 59:20 4 Jesus answered, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 ^athe BLIND RECEIVE their SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed by healing and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the ^bPOOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Is 35:5, 6; 61:1 6 And blessed joyful, favored by God is he who ^adoes not take offense at Me accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation.” Luke 7:23

7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in ^athe wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind which is commonplace? 8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing entirely unsuited for the harsh desert? Those who wear soft clothing are in the palaces of kings! 9 But what did you really go out to see? ^aA prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one more eminent, more remarkable, and ¹far more than a prophet who foretells the future. 10 This is the one of whom it is written by the prophet Malachi,‘^aBEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’ Mal 3:1 11 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater in privilege than he. 12 ^aFrom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force as a precious prize. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied up until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is the fulfillment of ^aElijah as the messenger who was to come before the kingdom. Mal 4:5 15 ^aHe who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market places, who call to the others, 17 and say ‘We piped the flute for you playing wedding, and you did not dance; we wailed sad dirges playing funeral, and you did not mourn and cry aloud.’ 18 For John came neither ^aeating nor ^bdrinking with others, and they say, ‘^cHe has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking with others, and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, ^aa friend of tax collectors and sinners including non-observant Jews!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds in the lives of those who respond to Me.”

20 Then He began to denounce the people in the cities in which most of His ^amiracles were done, because they did not repent and change their hearts and lives. 21 “^aWoe (judgment is coming) to you, ¹Chorazin! Woe to you, ^bBethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in ^cTyre and ^dSidon cities of the Gentiles, they would have repented long ago in ^esackcloth and ashes their hearts would have been changed and they would have expressed sorrow for their sin and rebellion against God. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, ^ait will be more tolerable for the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon on ^bthe day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, ^aCapernaum, are you to be exalted to heaven for your apathy and unresponsiveness? You will ^bdescend to ^cHades (the realm of the dead) ; for if the miracles done in you had been done in ^dSodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you, ^ait will be more tolerable for the land of ^bSodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

25 ^aAt that time Jesus said, “I praise You, ^bFather, Lord of heaven and earth I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom, that ^cYou have hidden these things these spiritual truths from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose. 26 Yes, ^aFather, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 ^aAll things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father ^bexcept the Son, and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to reveal Him.

28 “^aCome to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened by religious rituals that provide no peace, and I will give you rest refreshing your souls with salvation. 29 Take My yoke upon you and ^alearn from Me following Me as My disciple, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ^bYOU WILL FIND REST (renewal, blessed quiet) FOR YOUR SOULS. Jer 6:16 30 For ^aMy yoke is easy to bear and My burden is light.”

^aWhen Jesus had finished ¹giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there ^bto teach and ²preach in their cities.

2 ^aNow when ^bJohn, ¹while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You ^athe ¹Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 ^athe BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the ^bPOOR HAVE THE ¹GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 And blessed is he ¹who ^adoes not ²take offense at Me.”

7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into ^athe wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 ¹But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ ²palaces! 9 ¹But what did you go out to see? ^aA prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it ¹is written,‘^aBEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER ²AHEAD OF YOU,WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’ 11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is ¹least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 ^aFrom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven ¹suffers violence, and violent men ²take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is ^aElijah who ¹was to come. 15 ^aHe who has ears to hear, ¹let 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, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not ¹mourn.’ 18 For John came neither ^aeating nor ^bdrinking, and they say, ‘^cHe has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ¹drunkard, ^aa friend of tax collectors and ²sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His ^1amiracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “^aWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, ^bBethsaida! For if the ¹miracles had occurred in ^cTyre and ^dSidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in ^2esackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, ^ait will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in ^bthe day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, ^aCapernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will ^bdescend to ^cHades; for if the ¹miracles had occurred in ^dSodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that ^ait will be more tolerable for the land of ^bSodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

25 ^aAt that ¹time Jesus said, “I praise You, ^bFather, Lord of heaven and earth, that ^cYou have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, ^aFather, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 ^aAll things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father ^bexcept the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28 “^aCome to Me, all ¹who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and ^alearn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ^bYOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For ^aMy yoke is ¹easy and My burden is light.”

^aWhen Jesus had finished ¹giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there ^bto teach and ²preach in their cities.

2 ^aNow while in prison, ^bJohn heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You ^athe Coming One, or are we to ¹look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 ^athose who are BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the ^bPOOR HAVE THE ¹GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 And blessed is ¹any person who ^adoes not ²take offense at Me.”

7 As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into ^athe wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 ¹But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ ²palaces! 9 ¹But what did you go out to see? ^aA prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it ¹is written:‘^aBEHOLD, I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER ²AHEAD OF YOU,WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’ 11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And ^afrom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is ^aElijah who ¹was to come. 15 ^aThe one who has ears to hear, ¹let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not ¹mourn.’ 18 For John came neither ^aeating nor ^bdrinking, and they say, ‘^cHe has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ¹heavy drinker, ^aa friend of tax collectors and ²sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

20 Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His ^1amiracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “^aWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, ^bBethsaida! For if the ¹miracles that occurred in you had occurred in ^cTyre and ^dSidon, they would have repented long ago in ^2esackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, ^ait will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on ^bthe day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, ^aCapernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be ^bbrought down to ^cHades! For if the ¹miracles that occurred in you had occurred in ^dSodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that ^ait will be more tolerable for the land of ^bSodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

25 ^1aAt that time Jesus said, “I praise You, ^bFather, Lord of heaven and earth, that ^cYou have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, ^aFather, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. 27 ^aAll things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father ^bexcept the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.

28 “^aCome to Me, all ¹who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and ^alearn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ^bYOU WILL FIND ¹REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For ^aMy yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”