Luke 7:18-30

Common English Bible

John the Baptist and Jesus

¹⁸ John’s disciples informed him about all these things. John called two of his disciples ¹⁹ and sent them to the Lord. They were to ask him, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?”

²⁰ When they reached Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you. He asks, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?’”

²¹ Right then, Jesus healed many of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to a number of blind people. ²² Then he replied to John’s disciples, “Go, report to John what you have seen and heard. Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled now walk. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. And good news is preached to the poor.^{[a] 23} Happy is anyone who doesn’t stumble along the way because of me.”

²⁴ After John’s messengers were gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? ²⁵ What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who dress in fashionable clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ He is the one of whom it’s written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.^{[b] 28} I tell you that no greater human being has ever been born than John. Yet whoever is least in God’s kingdom is greater than he.” ²⁹ Everyone who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice because they had been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and legal experts rejected God’s will for themselves because they hadn’t been baptized by John.