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Luke 7:18-35

Messengers from John the Baptist

18 ^a, ^bThe disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one ^cwho is to come, or ^dshall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one ^ewho is to come, or ^fshall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour ^ghe healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and ^hon many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: ⁱthe blind receive their sight, the lame walk ^jlepers ^{▼

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Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13} are cleansed, and ^lthe deaf hear ^mthe dead are raised up, ⁿthe poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is ^onot offended by me.”

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus ^{▼

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Greek he} began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out ^qinto the wilderness to see? ^rA reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? ^sA prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

^t“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 ( ^uWhen all the people heard this, and ^vthe tax collectors too, they declared God just, ^{▼

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Greek they justified God} ^xhaving been baptized with ^ythe baptism of John, 30 ^zbut the Pharisees and ^aathe lawyers ^abrejected ^acthe purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘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 come ^adeating no bread and ^aedrinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come ^afeating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, ^aga friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet ^ahwisdom is justified by all her children.”