Thematic Bible: Jesus discourses upon

And as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, 'What went ye out to the wilderness to view? -- a reed shaken by the wind? But what went ye out to see? -- a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses. But what went ye out to see? -- a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet, read more.
for this is he of whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he. 'And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force, for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy, and if ye are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was about to come; he who is having ears to hear -- let him hear. 'And to what shall I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting and calling to their comrades, and saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast. 'For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man, a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners, and wisdom was justified of her children.'

And the messengers of John having gone away, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John: 'What have ye gone forth to the wilderness to look on? a reed by the wind shaken? but what have ye gone forth to see? a man in soft garments clothed? lo, they in splendid apparellings, and living in luxury, are in the houses of kings! 'But what have ye gone forth to see? a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet: read more.
this is he concerning whom it hath been written, Lo, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee; for I say to you, a greater prophet, among those born of women, than John the Baptist there is not; but the least in the reign of God is greater than he.' And all the people having heard, and the tax-gatherers, declared God righteous, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees, and the lawyers, the counsel of God did put away for themselves, not having been baptized by him. And the Lord said, 'To what, then, shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? they are like to children, to those sitting in a market-place, and calling one to another, and saying, We piped to you, and ye did not dance, we mourned to you, and ye did not weep! 'For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say, He hath a demon;