1And it happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he went from there to teach and preach in their cities.2Now John, having heard in prison about the works of Christ, sent word through his disciples3He said to him, "Are you the coming one, or do we expect another?"4And Jesus answered them: "Go and announce to John what you hear and see."5Blind men see, lame men walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf men hear, dead men are raised, and poor men have the gospel preached to them.6And blessed is whoever is not offended in me.7But as for these who were going away, Jesus began to say to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?"8But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft garments? Look, those who wear soft garments are in the houses of kings.9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.10This is the one about whom it has been written: "Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you."11Amen, I say to you, no one greater than John the Baptist has been raised among those born of women; but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him.12But from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is being forced, and violent ones are seizing it.13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah, the one who is about to come.15Whoever has ears, let him hear.16"Then what shall I liken this generation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to the others."17They say, "We piped to you and you did not dance; we mourned and you did not lament."18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon."19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet wisdom is justified by her works.