Luke 7:24–35

²⁴After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? ²⁵Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.

²⁶What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,

who will prepare Your way before You.’^d

²⁸I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. ³⁰But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

³¹“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? ³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another:

‘We played the flute for you,

and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,

and you did not weep.’

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