18 ^qThe 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 ^rthe one who is to come, or shall 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 who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John ^swhat you have seen and heard: ^tthe blind receive their sight, the ^ulame walk, lepers¹ are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the ^vdead are raised up, the ^wpoor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus² began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out ^xinto the wilderness to see? A 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? A ^yprophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

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 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,³ having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers ^arejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

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

33 For John the Baptist has come ^ceating no bread and ^ddrinking no wine, and you say, ^e‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a ^ffriend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 ^gYet wisdom is justified by all her children.”