Tell John What You See — March 13 [Description]Overview of Matthew 11:2-19 & Luke 7:18-35:These parallel passages describe a moment of doubt and confrontation with expectations. John the Baptist—imprisoned and facing death—sends messengers to Jesus, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus doesn’t answer with a simple yes or no. Instead, He tells them to report what they see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor—fulfilling messianic prophecies (especially from Isaiah).Jesus then honors John publicly, affirming his role as the promised forerunner, “more than a prophet.” But He also calls out the crowd’s fickleness. He compares that generation to children who complain no matter what the song—unhappy with John’s radical self-denial, then equally rejecting Jesus’ more relational, joyful approach.

Bible discovery

Matthew 11:2-19365D 72.1

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he ^{[a]NU sent by his} sent two of his disciples365D 72.2

3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”365D 72.3

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:365D 72.4

5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.365D 72.5

6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”365D 72.6

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?365D 72.7

8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.365D 72.8

9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.365D 72.9

10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’365D 72.10

11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.365D 72.11

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.365D 72.12

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.365D 72.13

14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.365D 72.14

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!365D 72.15

16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,365D 72.16

17 and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not ^{[b]Lit. beat your breast} lament.’365D 72.17

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’365D 72.18

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ^{[c]wine drinker} winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her ^{[d]NU works} children.”365D 72.19

Luke 7:18-35365D 72.20

18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.365D 72.21

19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to ^{[c]NU the Lord} Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or ^{[d]should we expect} do we look for another?”365D 72.22

20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ”365D 72.23

21 And that very hour He cured many of ^[e]illnesses infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.365D 72.24

22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.365D 72.25

23 And blessed is he who is not ^{[f]caused to stumble} offended because of Me.”365D 72.26

24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?365D 72.27

25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.365D 72.28

26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.365D 72.29

27 This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’365D 72.30

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is ^{[g]NU none greater than John;} not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”365D 72.31

29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors ^{[h]declared the righteousness of} justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.365D 72.32

30 But the Pharisees and ^{[i]the experts in the law} lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.365D 72.33

31 ^{[j]NU, M omit And the Lord said} And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?365D 72.34

32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’365D 72.35

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’365D 72.36

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ^{[k]An excessive drinker} winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’365D 72.37

35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”365D 72.38