The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Our next section will be set in the time after Jesus sends out the twelve when John sends his followers to Jesus to verify that He is the One.

Matthew 11:1-19, 20-24, 25-30 It came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding His twelve disciples, He departed to teach and to preach in other cities. 

When John had heard in the prison the works of Jesus, he sent two of his disciples, and asked Him, Are You He that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered them, Go and tell John again these things which you do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in Me.

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before My face, which shall prepare Your way before You. Verily (truly or of a Truth, a secret) I say to you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you will receive this he is Elias, which was for to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus here is revealing a much misunderstood prophecy about the one who would come before Him to prepare the way of righteousness's return to Israel. This is found in Malachi 4:5-6 and Jesus is said to have acknowledged John as being the prophet in Matthew 17:10-13.

But whereto shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows, and saying, We have piped for you, and you have not danced; we have mourned for you, and you have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he has a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you. (parallel passages Jeremiah 13:27, Ezekiel 3:6-7; Matthew 23:13-29, Luke 11:42-52, Jude 11, the rest of this is taken from the error and warnings of the OT which relate to mans and the worlds Apostate Religion when rightly divided.)

At that time Jesus said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come to Me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke (staff to join) upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke* (staff to join) is easy, and My burden is light. (parallel passages Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 28:20, Luke 6:46-48, 10:39-42, John 13:15, Acts 3:22-23; Ephesians 4:20-21, Hebrews 4:3-11)
*metaphorically, used of any burden or bondage, of troublesome laws imposed on one by the Apostate Religion, especially of the Mosaic law, hence the name is so transferred to the commands of Christ as to contrast them with the commands of the Pharisees which were a veritable ‘yoke’; yet even Christ’s commands must be submitted to, though easier to be kept.

What if anything does Paul tell us about John the Baptist's witness?