AND it came to pass, when Jesus had finished his injunctions to his
twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their
cities.
(2)Then John, having heard in prison the works of Christ, sent two of
his disciples, (3)and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or should
we expect another? (4)And Jesus answering said unto them, Go, and tell
John what things ye hear and see. (5)The blind receive sight, and the
lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (6)And blessed
is he whosoever shall not be offended at me.
(7)And when they were gone, Jesus began to speak to the multitudes
concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed
shaken with the wind? (8)But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in
delicate garments? Lo! they who wear delicate garments are in the
houses of kings. (9)Yet what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell
you, and abundantly more than a prophet. (10)For this is he of whom it
is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall
prepare thy way before thee." (11)Verily I say unto you, There hath not
arisen, from those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist: yet
he that is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (12)But
from the days of John the Baptist unto the present, the kingdom of
heaven is assaulted by violence, and the invaders forcibly seize upon
it. (13)For all the prophets and the law until John, foretold _this_.
(14)And if ye will receive it, this is Elias who was to come. (15)He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(16)But to whom shall I resemble this generation? it is like little
boys sitting in the places of concourse, and calling to their
companions, (17)and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not
danced; we have sung mournful ditties to you, and ye have not beat your
breasts. (18)For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say,
He hath a devil: (19)the Son of man is come eating and drinking, and
they say, Behold, what a man! a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners: though wisdom hath been justified by her
children.
(20)Then began he to upbraid the cities in which the chief of his
miracles had been wrought, because they repented not: (21)Wo unto thee,
Chorazin! wo unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the miracles which had been
wrought in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, long since would they
have repented in sack-cloth and ashes. (22)Wherefore I say unto you, It
shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than
for you. (23)And thou, Capernaum, who hast been exalted unto heaven,
shalt be cast down to hell: for if the miracles which have been wrought
in thee had been done in Sodom, it had remained unto this day.
(24)Wherefore I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the
land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.
(25)At that time Jesus spake and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and the
intelligent, and hast revealed them to babes: (26)yes, Father! since
such is thy good pleasure. (27)All things are delivered up to me by my
Father: and no person knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth
any person the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son is pleased to
reveal him.
(28)Come to me, all who labour hard, and sustain heavy burdens, and I
will give you relief. (29)Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls.
(30)For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.