1 WHEN Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and preach in the towns.
2 John had heard in prison of the doings of the Christ, and he sent by some of his disciples to ask,
3 "Are you 'the Coming One' or are we to expect some other?"
4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see.
5 Blind men recover sight, lame men walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf men hear, dead men are raised, and poor men have the good news proclaimed to them.
6 Blessed is he who does not mistake regarding me!"
7 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 shaken by the wind?
8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Those who wear soft clothes are in kings' palaces.
9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one of whom it was written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who will prepare thy way before thee.'
11 I tell you truly there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than John the Baptist. But any inferior in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence and violent men have been seizing it.
13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 If you are willing to believe it, he is Elijah who was to come.
15 Whoever has ears, let him hear.
16 "To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places who call to the others,
17 'We played the flute to you and you did not dance; we mourned and you did not beat your breasts.'
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'See a glutton and a wine-drinker; a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' Yet wisdom is proved to be in the right by her works."
20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his miracles had been done, because they had not repented:
21 "Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon the miracles had been done which were done in you, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum! No, you will not be exalted to heaven. You will be abased to Hades. Because if those miracles which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I tell you it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."
25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes.
26 Yes, Father, I thank thee that such was thy good pleasure.
27 "All things have been delivered tome by my Father, and no one knows the Son but the Father, nor does any one know the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.
28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."