Matthew 11:2-18

AUV^{(i) 2} Now while still in prison, John [the Immerser] heard about the things Christ was doing, [so] he sent [word] through his disciples ³ and said to Jesus, “Are you the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” ⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things you are hearing and seeing; ⁵ [how] blind people are receiving back their sight, and crippled people are walking [again], and people with infectious skin diseases are being healed, and deaf-mutes are hearing [and speaking (?) again], and people are being raised [from the dead], and poor people are having the good news preached to them. ⁶ The person who does not find an occasion for having doubts about my identity is fortunate indeed.” ⁷ As the messengers [sent by John. See Luke 7:27] went on their way, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. [He said], “What did you expect to see when you went out into the desert? A tall stem swaying in the wind? ⁸ What did you expect to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, people who wear fancy clothes live in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Why did you go out [to the desert]? To see a prophet? Yes, I should say [he was], and much more than a prophet. ¹⁰ He is the one about whom it was written [Mal. 3:1], ‘Look, I [will] send my messenger on ahead of you. He will prepare the pathway in front of you.’ ¹¹ It is true when I tell you, among [all] those born of women, no one greater than John the Immerser has come along. Yet the least significant person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Immerser the kingdom of heaven is experiencing turmoil, for violent men are [trying to] take control of it [by bringing it into existence] forcibly [i.e., before its appointed time. See Acts 1:6-7]. ¹³ For all of the prophets and the law of Moses prophesied [of this kingdom] up until the time of John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept [this truth], this person [i.e., John] fulfills [the prophecy of] the coming of Elijah. [See Mal. 4:5-6] ¹⁵ The person who has ears to hear with ought to listen [to this] carefully. ¹⁶ But what should I compare the people of this generation with? They are like children sitting in the open shopping market, who call out to their playmates, ¹⁷ ‘We [pretended like we] were making music [at a wedding] but you did not dance; we [pretended like we] were wailing [at a funeral] but you did not beat your chest [in mourning].’ ¹⁸ For when John came, he did not eat or drink [on festive occasions] and people said, ‘He is dominated by an evil spirit.’