1

And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.

2

Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples

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and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?

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And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see:

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the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them.

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And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.

7

And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?

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But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft [raiment]? Behold, they that wear soft [raiment] are in king's houses.

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But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

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This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.

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Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.

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For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

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And if ye are willing to receive [it,] this is Elijah, that is to come.

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He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows

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and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance we wailed, and ye did not mourn.

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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.

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The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.