Thematic Bible: Jesus discourses upon

But as they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. "What was it that you went out into the desert to look at? A reed swaying in the wind? Then what did you go out there to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Men who dress in that way you find in the palaces of kings. Then why did you go out there? Was it to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet! read more.
This is the man of whom the Scripture says, " 'Here I send my messenger on before you; He will prepare the road ahead of you.' "I tell you, among men born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has ever appeared. And yet those who are of little importance in the Kingdom of Heaven are greater than he. But from the time of John the Baptist until now men have been taking the Kingdom of Heaven by storm and impetuously crowding into it. For up to the time of John all the Prophets and the Law itself prophesied about it, and, if you are ready to accept the idea, he is himself Elijah who was to come. Let him who has ears listen! But to what can I compare this present age? It is like children sitting about in the bazaars and calling out to their playmates, " 'We have played the flute for you, and you would not dance! We have wailed and you would not beat your breasts!' For when John came, he neither ate nor drank, and people said, 'He has a demon!' Now that the Son of Man has come, he does eat and drink, and people say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drinker, the companion of tax-collectors and irreligious people!' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions!"

When John's messengers were gone, he began to speak to the crowds about John. "What was it that you went out into the desert to look at? A reed swaying in the wind? Then what did you go out there to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Men who wear fine clothes and live in luxury you find in palaces. Then what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet! read more.
This is the man of whom the Scripture says, " 'Here I send my messenger on before you, He will prepare the road ahead of you!' "I tell you, among men born of women there is none greater than John; and yet those who are of little importance in the Kingdom of God are greater than he. And all the people, even the tax-collectors, when they heard him, acknowledged the justice of God's demands, by accepting baptism from John, but the Pharisees and experts in the Law thwarted God's purpose for themselves, by refusing to be baptized by him. So what is there to which I can compare the men of this age? What are they like? They are like children sitting about in the bazaar and calling out to one another, " 'We have played the flute for you, and you would not dance! We have wailed and you would not weep!' "For when John the Baptist came, he did not eat any bread or drink any wine, and you said, 'He has a demon!'