Luke 7:24–35

Jesus Praises John

Matt. 11:7–15

^24vWhen the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes 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 clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. ²⁶But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷This is he of whom it is written:

^w‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

²⁸For I say to you, among those born of women there is ⁷not a ^xgreater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors ⁸justified God, ^yhaving been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰But the Pharisees and ⁹lawyers rejected ^zthe will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Jesus Criticizes His Generation

Matt. 11:16–19

³¹¹And the Lord said, ^a“To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? ³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

‘We played the flute for you,

And you did not dance;

We mourned to you,

And you did not weep.’

³³For ^bJohn the Baptist came ^cneither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴The Son of Man has come ^deating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ²winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ^35eBut wisdom is justified by all her children.”