^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.”