Jesus Testifies about John

Jesus asks what the crowd sought in the wilderness and rules out weakness and luxury before naming John a prophet and the prepared messenger. He says John stands greater than any born of woman, yet even the least in God’s kingdom is greater. The crowd splits in response, and wisdom is finally shown right.

A²⁴fter 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: 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: 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.”