耶稣和施洗者约翰

11 耶稣嘱咐完十二个门徒,就离开那里,到附近的城镇传道和教导人。

约翰在监狱中听到基督所做的事,就差两个门徒去问祂: “你就是那位我们所等候的救主吗?还是我们要等别人呢?”

耶稣回答说:“你们回去把所见所闻告诉约翰, 就是瞎子看见,瘸子走路,麻风病人得洁净,聋子听见,死人复活,穷人听到福音。 凡对我没有失去信心的人有福了!”

他们离开后,耶稣对众人谈起约翰,说:“你们从前去旷野要看什么呢?看随风摇动的芦苇吗? 如果不是,你们到底想看什么?是看穿绫罗绸缎的人吗?那些穿绫罗绸缎的人生活在王宫里。 你们究竟想看什么?看先知吗?是的,我告诉你们,他不只是先知。 10 圣经上说,‘看啊,我要差遣我的使者在你前面为你预备道路’,这里所指的就是约翰。 11 我实在告诉你们,凡妇人所生的,没有一个兴起来比施洗者约翰大,然而天国里最微不足道的也比他大。

12 “从施洗者约翰到现在,天国一直在强劲地扩展着,强劲的人要抓住它。 13 因为到约翰为止,所有的先知和律法都在预言天国的事。 14 如果你们愿意接受,约翰就是那要来的以利亚。 15 有耳可听的都应该留心听。

16 “这个世代的人好像什么呢?他们好像一群在街上玩耍的儿童对别的孩子说,

17 “‘我们吹娶亲的乐曲,
你们不跳舞;
我们唱送葬的哀歌,
你们不悲伤。’

18 约翰来了,也不吃也不喝,他们就说他被鬼附身。 19 人子来了,又吃又喝,他们就说祂是贪吃好酒之徒,与税吏和罪人为友。然而智慧会在她的作为上得到验证。”

不肯悔改的城

20 那时,耶稣开始责备一些城镇,因为祂在那里行了许多神迹,当地的居民仍不肯悔改。 21 祂说:“哥拉汛啊,你大祸临头了!伯赛大啊,你大祸临头了!我在你们当中所行的神迹,如果行在泰尔和西顿,那里的人早就身披麻衣,头蒙灰尘,悔改了。 22 所以我告诉你们,在审判之日,你们将比泰尔和西顿受更重的刑罚!

23 “迦百农啊,你将被提升到天上吗?不!你将被打落到阴间。因为若把在你那里所行的神迹行在所多玛,它肯定会存留到今天。 24 所以我告诉你们,在审判之日,你们将比所多玛受更重的刑罚!”

劳苦者得安息

25 那时,耶稣说:“父啊,天地的主,我颂赞你,因为你把这些事向聪明、有学问的人隐藏起来,却启示给像孩童一般的人。 26 父啊,是的,这正是你的美意。 27 我父将一切交给了我。除了父,没有人认识子;除了子和受子启示的人,没有人认识父。

28 “所有劳苦困乏、背负重担的人啊,到我这里来吧!我要赐给你们安息。 29 我心柔和谦卑,你们要负我的轭,向我学习,这样你们的心灵必得享安息。 30 因为我的轭容易负,我的担子很轻省。”

11 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.