Luke 7:18-35

International Standard Version

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus^(A)

¹⁸ John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples ¹⁹ and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”

²⁰ When the men had come to Jesus,^[a] they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?’”

²¹ At that time Jesus^[b] had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. ²² So he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. ²³ How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”

²⁴ When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus^[c] began to ask the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look! Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! ²⁷ This is the man about whom it is written,

²⁸ I tell you, no one has ever been born who is^[e] greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ By having been baptized with John’s baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice.^{[f] 30} But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God’s plan for themselves^[g] by refusing to be baptized by John.^[h]

³¹ Jesus continued,^[i] “To what may I compare the people living today?^{[j] 32} They’re like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,

³³ Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look! He’s^[k] a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ Wisdom is vindicated by all^[l] her children.”