Thematic Bible: Jesus discourses upon


Thematic Bible



Now [as] these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings. But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! read more.
It is this man about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' Truly I say to you, among [those] born of women there has not arisen [one] greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. But from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is treated violently, and the violent claim it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept [it], he is Elijah, the one who is going to come. The one who has ears, let him hear! "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, saying, 'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a man [who is] a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

And [when] the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! read more.
It is this man about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, there is no one greater among [those] born of women than John, but the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (And all the people, [when they] heard [this]--even the tax collectors--affirmed the righteousness of God, [because they] had been baptized [with] the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, [because they] had not been baptized by him.) "To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say, 'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not weep.' For John the Baptist has come not eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'