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1Now when 2John, whileimprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples
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and said to Him, "Are You 3the Expected One, or shall we look for someoneelse?"
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Jesusanswered and said to them, "Go and report to Johnwhat you hear and see:
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4the BLINDRECEIVESIGHT and the lamewalk, the lepers are cleansed and the deafhear, the dead are raised up, and the 5POOR HAVE THE GOSPELPREACHED TO THEM.
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"And blessed is he who6does not takeoffense at Me."
Jesus' Tribute to John
7 As these men were going away, Jesusbegan to speak to the crowdsaboutJohn, "What did you go out into 7the wilderness to see? A reedshaken by the wind?
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"But what did you go out to see? A mandressed in soft clothing? Those who wearsoft clothing are in kings'palaces!
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"But what did you go out to see? 8A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
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"This is the one aboutwhom it is written,'9BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAYBEFORE YOU.'
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"Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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"10From the days of John the Baptistuntilnow the kingdom of heavensuffersviolence, and violentmentake it by force.
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"For all the prophets and the LawprophesieduntilJohn.
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"And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is 11Elijah who was to come.
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"But to what shall I comparethisgeneration? It is likechildrensitting in the marketplaces, whocall out to the other children,
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and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
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"For Johncameneither13eatingnor14drinking, and they say, '15He has a demon!'
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"The Son of Mancameeating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonousman and a drunkard, 16a friend of taxcollectors and sinners!' Yetwisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
The Unrepenting Cities
20Then He began to denounce the cities in whichmost of His 17miracles were done, because they did not repent.
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"18Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, 19Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in 20Tyre and 21Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repentedlongago in 22sackcloth and ashes.
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"Nevertheless I say to you, 23it will be moretolerable for Tyre and Sidon in 24the day of judgmentthan for you.
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"And you, 25Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will 26descend to 27Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in 28Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to thisday.
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"Nevertheless I say to you that 29it will be moretolerable for the land of 30Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."