Luke 7:24-35

New Catholic Bible

²⁴ Jesus Praises John the Baptist.^[a]When John’s messengers had departed, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the wind? ²⁵ What did you go out to see? Someone robed in fine clothing? Those who are robed in gorgeous clothing and live luxuriously are to be found in royal palaces. ²⁶ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

²⁸ “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John, and yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ (All the people who heard him, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the saving justice of God, for they had received John’s baptism. ³⁰ However, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who had refused his baptism rejected God’s plan for them.)

³¹ Indecisive Children.“Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

³³ “For John the Baptist has come, eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say: ‘He is possessed.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say: ‘Look at him! He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ ³⁵ Yet wisdom is proved right by all her children.”