34Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; not peace, but a sword I have come to bring. 35For I have come to "divide the son[108] from the father,

a daughter with her mother,

the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law,

36so that a man's enemies will be those who are close to him"[109].

37He is not worthy of Me who loves his father or mother more than Me, and he who loves his son or daughter more than Me. 38And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is also unworthy of me. 39He who saves his life for himself will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it.

Reward for Those Who Receive Jesus' Messengers

40Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 Whoever receives the messenger of God[110] because he is the messenger of God will receive the reward of the messenger, and he who receives the righteous because he is righteous will receive the reward of the righteous. 42 And if any man give even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, I assure you, he shall not lose his reward."

11 After teaching these instructions to his twelve disciples, Jesus went out to teach and preach in the cities of Galilee.

Doubts of John the Baptist

2 When John heard in prison about the works that Christ was doing, he sent his disciples[111] 3 to ask him: "Are you the one who was to come, or are we waiting for another?"

4 Jesus answered them: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the deaf hear, and the lame walk; you see the lepers cleansed, the dead resurrected, and that the Good News is proclaimed to the needy. 6And blessed is he who finds nothing in Me that can confuse and repel him."

Higher than the Prophet

7When John's disciples had departed, Jesus turned to the multitude and spoke of John: "What did you want to see when you went into the wilderness? Isn't it a reed that sways in the wind? 8What then did you go to see? A man in splendid[112] clothes? But those who are in splendid clothes, they are in the royal palaces. 9Why then did you go? To see the prophet[113]? Of course he is, but I tell you, he is much more than a prophet. 10He is the one of whom the Scriptures say:

"Behold, ahead of Thee