23
Andblessedis he, whosoevershallnot be offendedinme.
24
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speakunto the peopleconcerningJohn,What went ye outinto the wilderness for to see? A reedshakenwith the wind?
25
Butwhat went ye out for to see? A manclothedinsoftraiment?Behold, they which aregorgeouslyapparelled,andlivedelicately,arein kings' courts.
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Butwhat went ye out for to see? A prophet?Yea, I say unto you,and much more than a prophet.
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Thisis he, ofwhom it is written, Behold, Isendmymessengerbeforethyface,which shall preparethywaybeforethee.
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For I say unto you,Among those that are born of women there isnot a greaterprophetthanJohn the Baptist:but he that is leastin the kingdom of Godis greater thanhe.
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Andall the people that heard him, and the publicans,justifiedGod, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30
But the Phariseesandlawyersrejected[a] the counsel of Godagainstthemselves,beingnotbaptizedofhim.
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And the Lordsaid, Whereuntothen shall I liken the men of thisgeneration?and to what are theylike?
32
They arelike unto childrensittingin the marketplace,andcalling one to another,andsaying, We have piped unto you,and ye havenotdanced; we have mourned to you,and ye havenotwept.
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ForJohn the Baptistcameneithereatingbreadnordrinkingwine;and ye say, He hath a devil.
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The Son of man is comeeatinganddrinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonousman,and a winebibber, a friend of publicansandsinners!