John’s Inquiry (Luke 7:18–23)
1 UST So, Jesus completed instructing his 12 apprentices{ about what they should do}. Then, he left that place in order to proclaim{ the good news to people} in the towns throughout the area. BSB BSB: After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
3 UST to ask Jesus,“Are you the one whom{ God promised} would come, or should we be waiting for someone else?” BSB BSB: to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”
4 UST So Jesus answered John’ s apprentices,“Go back and tell John what you have heard and seen. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 UST People who were blind are now seeing. People who could not walk are now walking. People who had skin diseases no longer have them. People who were deaf can now hear. People who were dead are alive again. I am proclaiming good news to poor people. BSB BSB: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
6 UST God will bless anyone who{ sees what I do and hears what I teach and} continues to believe in me.” BSB BSB: Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
Jesus Testifies about John (Malachi 3:1–5; Luke 7:24–35)
7 UST When John’ s apprentices left, Jesus started to talk to the large groups of people about John. He said,“Surely you did not travel to John in the desolate area to see someone who often changed his mind, who was like the thin stalk of a plant that the wind shakes. BSB BSB: As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
8 UST Surely you did not travel{ to the desolate area} to see someone who wore fancy clothes. You know very well that the people who wear fancy clothes live in palaces{, not in desolate areas}. BSB BSB: Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.
9 UST Surely you traveled{ to the desolate area} to see a man who spoke for God. Yes{, that is who John is}! But I want to tell you that John is more significant than other people who speak for God. BSB BSB: What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 UST He is the one about whom a prophet wrote in the Scriptures:‘Listen, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will make things ready for when you come.’ BSB BSB: This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 UST Of all the people who have ever lived, there has been no one more important than John the Baptizer. However, the most insignificant people who participate in God’ s heavenly kingdom are more important than John. What I have said is true. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 UST From the time when John the Baptizer began to preach publicly until this time, people have attacked God’ s heavenly kingdom. Indeed, violent people try to conquer it. BSB BSB: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
13 UST Further, before John{ began to preach}, the laws that God gave Moses and the things that the prophets wrote predicted{ what is now happening}. BSB BSB: For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
15 UST You should think carefully about what you just heard me say! BSB BSB: He who has ears, let him hear.
16 UST { I will tell you} what{ you people who live in} this time period are like. You are like children playing games in an open area. They call out to their friends, BSB BSB: To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 UST ‘We played happy music for you on the flute, but you did not dance! Then we sang sad funeral songs for you, but you did not grieve!’ BSB BSB: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 UST Similarly, when John came to you and often did not eat or drink, people{ rejected him and} said,‘A demon is controlling him!’ BSB BSB: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
19 UST But when I, the Son of Man, came to you and I enjoyed food and drink, people{ rejected me and} said,‘Look! This man eats too much food and drinks too much wine, and he associates with people who collect taxes and other sinful people!’ But those who are wise themselves recognize that what John and I do is also wise.” BSB BSB: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
Woe to the Unrepentant (Luke 10:13–16)
20 UST Now people who lived in the towns where Jesus had done many powerful things did not stop doing what was wrong. So, Jesus began to scold them: BSB BSB: Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
22 UST So I want to tell you that when God judges everyone, he will punish you more severely than{ the wicked people who lived in} Tyre and Sidon. BSB BSB: But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 UST I also have something to say to you people who live in the town of Capernaum. You may think that God is going to give you great rewards. No, God is not going to reward you at all! I say this because I did powerful things while I was in your town. If I had done those same powerful things in{ the city of} Sodom, the{ wicked} people who lived there{ would have stopped doing what was wrong, and} God would not have destroyed them. BSB BSB: And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
24 UST So I want to tell you that when God judges everyone, he will punish you more severely than{ the wicked people who lived in} the region of Sodom.” BSB BSB: But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Rest for the Weary (Luke 10:21–24)
25 UST Then Jesus responded by praying,“God my Father, you are Lord over everything you have made. I praise you that you have prevented people who think they are smart from understanding things. Instead, you have revealed them to people who accept{ what you say} as readily as little children do. BSB BSB: At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
26 UST That is true, my Father, and you have done that because it pleased you to do so.” BSB BSB: Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
27 UST { Then Jesus told the people who were there,}“God, my Father, has given everything to me. Only my Father really knows me, his Son. And only I, his Son, really know my Father. But I do choose to show some people who he is. BSB BSB: All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
28 UST Many of you feel tired and are struggling. Become my apprentices! I will enable you to rest. BSB BSB: Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 UST I am not forceful or proud, and I will help you to rest. So, do what I command and listen to what I teach. BSB BSB: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 UST { I say that} because you can easily do what I command. Indeed, you can easily do what I ask you to do.” BSB BSB: For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”