Luke 7:24-35

International Standard Version

²⁴ When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus^[a] began to ask the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look! Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! ²⁷ This is the man about whom it is written,

²⁸ I tell you, no one has ever been born who is^[c] greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ By having been baptized with John’s baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice.^{[d] 30} But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God’s plan for themselves^[e] by refusing to be baptized by John.^[f]

³¹ Jesus continued,^[g] “To what may I compare the people living today?^{[h] 32} They’re like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,

³³ Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look! He’s^[i] a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ Wisdom is vindicated by all^[j] her children.”