Messengers from John the Baptist
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When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
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And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
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7the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepersa are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and 8the poor have good news preached to them.
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And blessed is the one who 9is not offended by me."
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As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out 10into the wilderness to see? 11A reed shaken by the wind?
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What then did you go out to see? A manb dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
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This is he of whom it is written, 13"'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
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Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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14From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,d and the violent take it by force.
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15For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
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and if you are willing to accept it, he is 16Elijah who is to come.
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"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
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"'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
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The Son of Man came 20eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, 21a friend of 22tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."f
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
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23Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
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24"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in 25Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
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26But I tell you, it will be more bearable on 27the day of judgment for 28Tyre and Sidon than for you.
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And you, 29Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to 30Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
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31But I tell you that 32it will be more tolerable on 33the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
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34At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, 35Lord of heaven and earth, that 36you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and 37revealed them to little children;
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39All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son 40except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone 41to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
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Take my yoke upon you, and 45learn from me, for I am 46gentle and lowly in heart, and 47you will find rest for your souls.
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For 48my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)