| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns. | 1When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. |
| 2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: | 2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, |
| 3"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" | 3“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” |
| 4Jesus answered them, "Go tell John what you hear and see: | 4Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— |
| 5The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. | 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” |
| 6Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." | 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me. ” |
| 7While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? | 7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? |
| 8What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! | 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. |
| 9What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. | 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. |
| 10This is the one about whom it is written: 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' | 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’ |
| 11"I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. | 11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! |
| 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. | 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. |
| 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. | 13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. |
| 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. | 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. |
| 15The one who has ears had better listen! | 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! |
| 16"To what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, | 16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, |
| 17We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.' | 17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’ |
| 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' | 18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ |
| 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." | 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Judgment for the Unbelievers |
| 20Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent. | 20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. |
| 21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. | 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. |
| 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! | 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. |
| 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. | 23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. |
| 24But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!" | 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving |
| 25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. | 25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. |
| 26Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will. | 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! |
| 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him. | 27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” |
| 28Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. | 28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. |
| 29Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. | 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. |
| 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry." | 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” |
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