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: 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.”