isv Matthew:11:1-19 SEEK
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When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples ,
he left there to teach and preach in their cities .
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Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ ,
he sent a message by his disciples
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and asked him , “
Are you the Coming One ,
or should we wait for someone else ?”
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Jesus answered them ,“
Go and tell John what you hear and observe :
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the blind see ,
the lame walk ,
lepers are cleansed ,
the deaf hear ,
the dead are raised ,
and the destitute hear the good news .
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How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me !”
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As they were leaving ,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John .“
What did you go out into the wilderness to see ?
A reed shaken by the wind ?
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Really ,
what did you go out to see ?
A man dressed in fancy clothes ?
See ,
those who wear fancy clothes live in kings ’
houses .
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Really ,
what did you go out to see ?
A prophet ?
Yes ,
I tell you ,
and even more than a prophet !
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This is the man about whom it is written ,‘
See ,
I am sending my messenger ahead of you ,
who will prepare your way before you .’
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Truly I tell you ,
among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist .
Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he .
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From the days of John the Baptist until the present ,
the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing ,
and violent people have been attacking it .
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For the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John ,
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and if you are willing to accept it ,
he is Elijah who is to come .
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Let the person who has earslisten !
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To what can I compare this generation ?
It '
s like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other ,
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A wedding song we played for you ,
the dance you did but scorn .
A woeful dirge we chanted ,
too ,
but then you would not mourn .’
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For John didn '
t come eating or drinking ,
yetpeoplesay , ‘
He has a demon !’
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The Son of Man came eating and drinking ,
and they say , ‘
Look ,
a glutton and a drunk ,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners !’
Absolved from every act of sin ,
is wisdom by her kith and kin .”