181The disciples of Johnreported to him aboutallthesethings.
19
Summoningtwo of his disciples, Johnsent them to 2the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someoneelse?"
20
When the mencame to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someoneelse?' "
21
At that very time He 3curedmany people of diseases and 4afflictions and evilspirits; and He gavesight to many who were blind.
22
And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to Johnwhat you have seen and heard: the 5BLINDRECEIVESIGHT, the lamewalk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deafhear, the dead are raised up, the 6POOR HAVE THE GOSPELPREACHED TO THEM.
23
"Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."
24
When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowdsaboutJohn, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reedshaken by the wind?
25
"But what did you go out to see? A mandressed in softclothing? Those who are splendidlyclothed and live in luxury are found in royalpalaces!
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,'7BEHOLD, 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 acknowledged8God'sjustice, 9having been baptized with 10the baptism of John.
30
But the Pharisees and the 11lawyersrejectedGod'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 come12eatingnobread 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!'
35
"Yetwisdom13is vindicated by all her children."
36
Nowone of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee'shouse and reclined at the table.
37
14And there was a woman in the citywho was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee'shouse, she brought an alabastervial of perfume,
38
and standingbehind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "Ifthisman were 15a prophet He would knowwho and whatsort of personthiswoman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."
2.
Luke 7:13; Luke 10:1; Luke 11:1, 39; Luke 12:42; Luke 13:15; Luke 17:5, 6; Luke 18:6; Luke 19:8; Luke 22:61; Luke 24:34; John 4:1; John 6:23; John 11:2