26
"But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
27
"This is the one aboutwhom it is written,'1BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGERAHEAD OF YOU,WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAYBEFORE YOU.'
28
"I say to you, among those born of women there is noonegreater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29
When all the people and the taxcollectorsheard this, they acknowledged2God'sjustice, 3having been baptized with 4the baptism of John.
30
But the Pharisees and the 5lawyersrejectedGod'spurpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
31
"To whatthen shall I compare the men of thisgeneration, and what are they like?
32
"They are likechildren who sit in the marketplace and call to oneanother, and they say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'
33
"For John the Baptist has come6eatingnobread and drinkingnowine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'
34
"The Son of Man has comeeating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonousman and a drunkard, a friend of taxcollectors and sinners!'