Matthew, chapter 11, we are teaching through Matthew's biography of Jesus of

Nazareth. We left off last week in chapter 10 at the end of it. So we pick it up.

Chapter 11 verse 1, let's read, after Jesus had finished instructing his 12

disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his

disciples to ask him, wait, are you the one who is to come or should we expect

someone else? Jesus replied, go back, report to John what you hear and see. The

blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the

deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. As John's disciples

were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd, but about John, what did you go

out into the wilderness to see a reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go

out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are on

Instagram. Then what did you go out to see in King's palaces? What did you go out

to see? A prophet, yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet, this is the one about

whom it is written, quote, I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare

your way before you end quote. Truly, I tell you, among those born of women,

there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet whoever is

least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the

Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence and

violent people have been raiding it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied

until John, and if you're willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come,

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