1 W hen Jesus had finished His charge to His twelve disciples, He left there to teach and to preach in their cities.

When Jesus finished telling His twelve followers what to do, He went away from there to teach and preach in their towns.

2 N ow when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples

When John the Baptist was in prison, he heard what Jesus was doing. He sent his followers.

3 A nd asked Him, Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one?

They asked, “Are You the One Who was to come, or should we look for another?”

4 A nd Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see:

Jesus said to them, “Go and tell John what you see and hear.

5 T he blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed (by healing) and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have good news (the Gospel) preached to them.

The blind are made to see. Those who could not walk are walking. Those who have had bad skin diseases are healed. Those who could not hear are hearing. The dead are raised up to life and the Good News is preached to poor people.

6 A nd blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth.

He is happy who is not ashamed of Me and does not turn away because of Me.” Jesus Tells about John the Baptist

7 T hen as these men went their way, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out in the wilderness (desert) to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

As the followers of John the Baptist went away, Jesus began to tell the people about John. He said, “What did you go out to see in the desert? A small tree shaking in the wind?

8 W hat did you go out to see then? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings.

But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in good clothes? Those who are dressed in good clothes are in the houses of kings.

9 B ut what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one '> out of the common, more eminent, more remarkable, and] superior to a prophet.

What did you go out to see? One who speaks for God? Yes, I tell you, he is more than one who speaks for God.

10 T his is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who shall make ready Your way before You.

This is the man the Holy Writings spoke of when they said, ‘See! I will send My helper to carry news ahead of You. He will make Your way ready for You!’

11 T ruly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

For sure, I tell you, of those born of women, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. The least in the holy nation of heaven is greater than he.

12 A nd from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force '> share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the holy nation of heaven has suffered very much. Fighting men try to take it.

13 F or all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.

All the early preachers and the Law told about it until the time of John.

14 A nd if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

And if you will believe it, he is Elijah who was to come.

15 H e who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.

You have ears, then listen! Jesus Speaks Against Cities in Galilee

16 B ut to what shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the marketplaces who call to their playmates,

“What are the people of this day like? They are like children playing in the center of town where people gather. They call to their friends.

17 W e piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed dirges, and you did not mourn and beat your breasts and weep aloud.

They say, ‘We played music for you, but you did not dance. We showed sorrow in front of you, but you did not show sorrow.’

18 F or John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon!

John came and did not eat or drink. They said, ‘He has a demon.’

19 T he Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and '> especially wicked] sinners! Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does (her deeds) and by her children.

Then the Son of Man came and ate and drank. They said, ‘See! He eats too much and likes wine. He is a friend of men who gather taxes and of sinners!’ But wisdom shows itself to be right by what it does.”

20 T hen He began to censure and reproach the cities in which most of His mighty works had been performed, because they did not repent.

Then He began to say strong words against the cities where most of His powerful works were done. He spoke to them because they were not sorry for their sins and did not turn from them.

21 W oe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.

“It is bad for you, city of Chorazin! It is bad for you, town of Bethsaida! For if the powerful works which were done in you had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, they would have turned from their sins long ago. They would have shown their sorrow by putting on clothes made from hair and would have sat in ashes.

22 I tell you, it shall be more endurable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

I tell you, it will be better for Tyre and Sidon on the day men stand before God and are told they are guilty, than for you.

23 A nd you, Capernaum, are you to be lifted up to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued until today.

“And Capernaum, are you to be lifted up into heaven? You will be taken down to hell. If the powerful works which were done in you had been done in the city of Sodom, it would be here to this day.

24 B ut I tell you, it shall be more endurable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.

But I say to you that it will be better for the land of Sodom on the day men stand before God and are told they are guilty, than for you.” Jesus Prays to His Father

25 A t that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth '> I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies '> childish, untaught, and unskilled].

At that time Jesus said, “Thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You hid these things from the wise and from those who have much learning. You have shown them to little children.

26 Y es, Father, such was Your gracious will and good pleasure.

Yes, Father, it was good in Your sight.

27 A ll things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known.

“Everything has been given to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son but the Father. No one knows the Father but the Son, and those to whom the Son wants to make the Father known. Jesus Calls People to Follow Him

28 C ome to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. '> ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

“Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.

29 T ake My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ( relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls.

30 F or My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.”