Luke 7:24–35

²⁴And when^* the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces. ²⁶But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! ²⁷It is this man about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’^e

²⁸I tell you, there is no one greater among those born of women than John, but the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. ²⁹(And all the people, when they^* heard this^*—even the tax collectors—affirmed the righteousness of God, because they^* had been baptized with the baptism of John, ³⁰but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, because they^* had not been baptized by him.)

³¹“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say,

‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;

we sang a lament and you did not weep.’

³³For John the Baptist has come not eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³⁴The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵And wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”