^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.”