Matthew 11:9-14

Messengers from John the Baptist

9 What then did you go out to see? p A prophet? 1 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

10 This is he of whom it is written,
q "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.'

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 r From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, 2 and the violent take it by force. 13 r For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is s Elijah who is to come.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 14:5
    And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
    Matthew 21:26
    But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.
    Luke 1:76
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.
  2. Cross References
    Mark 1:2
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
  3. Cross References
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
  4. Cross References
    Luke 16:16
    The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 11:12
    From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 17:10 - 13
    And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?
    Malachi 4:5
    Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
    Mark 9:11 - 13
    And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?
    Luke 1:17
    And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
    John 1:21
    And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.