Matthew 11
Jesus finished instructing his disciples and went to preach in their cities, while John the Baptist, in prison, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one to come. Jesus replied by pointing to the miracles he had performed and told them to report back to John. Jesus then spoke to the crowds about John, calling him the greatest of those born of women, but also saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. Jesus rebuked the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for not repenting despite the miracles performed there, saying they would be judged more harshly than Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom. Jesus then praised his Father for revealing the truth to the humble and invited all who labor and are burdened to come to him for rest.
And it happened that, when Jesus had completed instructing his twelve disciples, he went away from there in order to teach and to preach in their citiesNow when John had heard, in prison, about the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to him"Are you he who is to come, or should we expect another?And Jesus, responding, said to them: "Go and report to John what you have heard and seenThe blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor are evangelizedAnd blessed is he who has found no offense in me.Then, after they departed, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the windSo what did you go out to see? A man in soft garments? Behold, those who are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kingsThen what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophetFor this is he, of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.Amen I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than heBut from the days of John the Baptist, even until now, the kingdom of heaven has endured violence, and the violent carry it awayFor all the prophets and the law prophesied, even until JohnAnd if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah, who is to comeWhoever has ears to hear, let him hearBut to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplacewho, calling out to their companions, say: ‘We played music for you, and you did not dance. We lamented, and you did not mourn.For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say, ‘He has a demon.The Son of man came eating and drinking; and they say, ‘Behold, a man who eats voraciously and who drinks wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is justified by her sons.Then he began to rebuke the cities in which many of his miracles were accomplished, for they still had not repented"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in haircloth and ashesYet truly, I say to you, Tyre and Sidon shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgmentAnd you, Capernaum, would you be exalted all the way to heaven? You shall descend all the way to Hell. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, perhaps it would have remained, even to this dayYet truly, I say to you, that the land of Sodom shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment.At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little onesYes, Father, for this was pleasing before youAll things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal himCome to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh youTake my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your soulsFor my yoke is sweet and my burden is light.
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