11. I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
12. From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven has suffered violent attacks, and violent men try to seize it.
13. Until the time of John all the prophets and the Law of Moses spoke about the Kingdom;
14. and if you are willing to believe their message, John is Elijah, whose coming was predicted.
15. Listen, then, if you have ears!
16. “Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the market place. One group shouts to the other,
17. ‘We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn't dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn't cry!’
18. When John came, he fasted and drank no wine, and everyone said, ‘He has a demon in him!’
19. When the Son of Man came, he ate and drank, and everyone said, ‘Look at this man! He is a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts!’ God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results.”
20. The people in the towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles did not turn from their sins, so he reproached those towns.
21. “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would long ago have put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins!
22. I assure you that on the Judgement Day God will show more mercy to the people of Tyre and Sidon than to you!
23. And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would still be in existence today!
24. You can be sure that on the Judgement Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to you!”
25. At that time Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.