0371004 Jesus commends John the Baptist – Matthew 11:7-19, Luke 7:24-35, A.D. 27 Towns in Galilee
And when John’s messengers had departed, and as these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes 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 clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king’s houses. Those who are beautifully dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But why did you go out and what did you go out to see? To see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ “For most certainly I say to you, there has not risen among those who are born of women anyone greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God is greater than he.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And when all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, not being baptized by him.
“And to what then shall I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they like? It is like or they are like little children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to one another, their companions, and say, ‘We played the flute for you and piped to you, and you did not dance. We mourned for you, and you did not lament and weep. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘And behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
