In those days, John, having heard in prison about the works of Christ, sent two of his disciples to say to Him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we waiting for another?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor preach the gospel; and blessed is he who shall not be offended in me. And when they had gone, Jesus began to speak to the people about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?" Is it a reed shaken by the wind? Did you go to see the same thing? Is it a man clothed in soft garments? Those who wear soft garments are in the royal palaces. What did you go to see? Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For he is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Of those born of women there has not arisen greater than John the Baptist; but the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist to this day the kingdom of heaven is taken by force, and those who use force take it away, for all the prophets and the law prophesied before John. And if you want to receive, he is Elijah, who must come. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 11:2-15

Monday of the 4th week.

The finding of the head of John the Baptist, at the Liturgy.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 41

The Lord said, "To whom shall I liken this generation?" He is like children who sit in the street and, addressing their comrades, say: we played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; We sang sad songs to you, and you did not weep. For John came, neither eating nor drinking; And they say, 'A demon is in him.' The Son of Man has come, eating and drinking; And they say, Behold a man who loves to eat and drink wine, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children. Then He began to reproach the cities in which His strength was most manifested, because they did not repent.

Matthew 11:16-20

Tuesday of the 4th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 42

In those days Jesus began to rebuke the cities in which His powers were most manifest, because they did not repent: "Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the powers manifested in you had been manifested in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes, but I say to you, Tyre and Sidon will be more pleased in the day of judgment than you. And you, Capernaum, who have ascended to heaven, will descend to hell, for if the powers manifested in you had been manifested in Sodom, it would have remained to this day; but I say unto you, that the land of Sodom shall be more pleasant in the day of judgment than thee. At that time, continuing the speech, Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to babes; Father! for such was Thy good pleasure.

Matthew 11:20–26

Wednesday of the 4th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 43

The Lord said to His disciples, "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knoweth the Son but the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and to whom the Son wants to reveal. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.