Jesus and John the Baptist

7:18 John’s66 disciples informed him about all these things. So67 John called68 two of his disciples 7:19 and sent them to Jesus69 to ask,70 “Are you the one who is to come,71 or should we look for another?” 7:20 When72 the men came to Jesus,73 they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,74 ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’ ”75 7:21 At that very time76 Jesus77 cured many people of diseases, sicknesses,78 and evil spirits, and granted79 sight to many who were blind. 7:22 So80 he answered them,81 “Go tell82 John what you have seen and heard:83 The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the84 deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 7:23 Blessed is anyone85 who takes no offense at me.”

7:24 When86 John’s messengers had gone, Jesus87 began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness88 to see? A reed shaken by the wind?89 7:25 What90 did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy91 clothes?92 Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury93 are in kings’ courts!94 7:26 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more95 than a prophet. 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,96 who will prepare your way before you.’97 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater98 than John.99 Yet the one who is least100 in the kingdom of God101 is greater than he is.” 7:29 (Now102 all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors,103 acknowledged104 God’s justice, because they had been baptized105 with John’s baptism. 7:30 However, the Pharisees106 and the experts in religious law107 rejected God’s purpose108 for themselves, because they had not been baptized109 by John.110)111

7:31 “To what then should I compare the people112 of this generation, and what are they like? 7:32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another,113

‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance;114

we wailed in mourning,115 yet you did not weep.’

7:33 For John the Baptist has come116 eating no bread and drinking no wine,117 and you say, ‘He has a demon!’118 7:34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him,119 a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’120 7:35 But wisdom is vindicated121 by all her children.”122