Luke 7:24-35

New Life Version

Jesus Tells about John the Baptist ^(A)

²⁴ As John’s followers were going away, Jesus began to tell the people about John the Baptist. He said, “Why did you go out to the desert? Did you go out to see a small tree moving in the wind? ²⁵ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in good clothes? Those who are dressed in good clothes are in the houses of kings. ²⁶ But what did you go to see? One who speaks for God? Yes, I tell you, he is more than one who speaks for God. ²⁷ This is the man the Holy Writings spoke of when they said, ‘See! I will send My helper to carry news ahead of You. He will make Your way ready for You!’ ^(B)

²⁸ “I tell you, of those born of women, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. The least in the holy nation of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ All the people who heard Jesus and those who gathered taxes showed they knew God was right and were baptized by John. ³⁰ But the proud religious law-keepers and the men who knew the Law would not listen. They would not be baptized by John and they did not receive what God had for them.

Jesus Speaks Against the People of This Day

³¹ Then the Lord said, “What are the people of this day like? ³² They are like children playing in front of stores. They call to their friends, ‘We have played music for you, but you did not dance. We have had sorrow for you, but you did not have sorrow.’ ³³ John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you say, ‘See! He likes food and wine. He is a friend of men who gather taxes and of sinners!’ ³⁵ Wisdom is shown to be right by those who are wise.”