Matthew 11:9-14

⁹What then? A prophet? That''s right, a prophet! Probably the best prophet you''ll ever hear.

¹⁰He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, "I''m sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.''c

¹¹"Let me tell you what''s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him.d

¹²For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God''s kingdom.e

¹³But if you read the books of the Prophets and God''s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom.

¹⁴Looked at in this way, John is the "Elijah'' you''ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.f