Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice

34 Then Elihu continued and said,

A Father’s Instruction

²⁴ When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the ^[a]wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ^25 [b]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

²⁸ I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is ^[d]least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ²⁹ When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged ^(B)God’s justice, ^(C)having been baptized with ^(D)the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the ^[e](E)lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by ^[f]John.

³¹ “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not weep.’ ³³ For John the Baptist has come neither ^(F)eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a ^[g]heavy drinker, a friend of tax collectors and ^[h]sinners!’ ³⁵ And yet wisdom ^(G)is vindicated by all her children.”

The Anointing in Galilee

³⁶ Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ^37 (H)And there was a woman in the city who was a ^[i]sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, ³⁸ and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were ^(I)a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a ^[j]sinner!”

Parable of Two Debtors

⁴⁰ And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he ^[k]replied, “Say it, Teacher.” ⁴¹ “A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred ^[l](J)denarii, and the other, fifty. ⁴² When they ^(K)were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” ⁴⁴ And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you ^(L)gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You ^[m](M)gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. ^46 (N)You did not ^[n]anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. ⁴⁷ For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And He said to her, “^(O)Your sins have been forgiven.” ⁴⁹ And then those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying ^[o]to themselves, “^(P)Who is this man who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And He said to the woman, “^(Q)Your faith has saved you; ^(R)go in peace.”