25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?v Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

See, I am sending my messenger

ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.E,w

28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John,F but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.a 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the lawb had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.c)

AN UNRESPONSIVE GENERATION

31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

We played the flute for you,

but you didn’t dance;

we sang a lament,

but you didn’t weep!

33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine,d and you say, ‘He has a demon!’