Matthew 11

1 And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and to proclaim in their towns.

2 But John, hearing in the prison of the works of the Christ, sent word through his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:

6 “And blessed is anyone who is not made to stumble over me.”

7 As these were going away, Jesus began to say to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in the houses of kings. 9 But what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: [b]

11 “Amen I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Immerser has arisen; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Immerser until now the kingdom of the heavens is taken by force, and forceful men seize it. [d] 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he himself is Elijah, the one who is to come. [e] † 15 Let the one who has ears hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call to the others 17 and say:

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, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ And wisdom was set right by her works.” [f]

20 Then he began to reproach the towns in which most of his acts of power had happened, because they had not had a change of mind: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the acts of power that happened in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have had a change of mind long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum — will you be lifted up as far as heaven? You will go down as far as Hades. For if the acts of power that happened in you had happened in Sodom, it would have remained until today. [g] 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

25 At that time Jesus said in answer, “I give thanks to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these things from the wise and the understanding and revealed them to infants. [h] 26 Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing before you. 27 All things were handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. †