Luke 7:18-35

Modern English Version

The Messengers From John the Baptist^(A)

¹⁸ The disciples of John told him of all these things. ¹⁹ John, calling for two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the One who is coming, or shall we look for another?”

²⁰ When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the One who is coming, or shall we look for another?’ ”

²¹ In that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and afflictions and evil spirits. And to many who were blind He gave sight. ²² So Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. ²³ Blessed is he who does not fall away on account of Me.”

²⁴ When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the crowd concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Now those who are splendidly clothed and live luxuriously are in royal palaces. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written:

²⁸ I say to you, among those who are born of women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ All the people who heard Him, including the tax collectors, justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by John.

³¹ Then the Lord said, “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to each other, saying:

³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine. But you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking. But you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”