24
After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
25
If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.
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But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
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This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’[a]
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I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
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(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.
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But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
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Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
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They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’
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For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
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The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
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But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”