23 And blessed is [a]anyone who does not take offense at Me.”

24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the [b]wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 [c]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:

(A)Behold, I am sending My messenger [d]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

28 I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is [e]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 [f](E)lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by [g]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 [h]heavy drinker, a friend of tax collectors and [i]sinners!’ 35 And yet wisdom (G)is vindicated by all her children.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:23 Lit whoever
  2. Luke 7:24 I.e., desert
  3. Luke 7:25 Or Well then, what
  4. Luke 7:27 Lit before Your face
  5. Luke 7:28 Or less
  6. Luke 7:30 I.e., experts in the Mosaic Law
  7. Luke 7:30 Lit him
  8. Luke 7:34 Or wine drinker
  9. Luke 7:34 I.e., irreligious Jews

23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet?(A) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’[a](B)

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God(C) is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.(D) 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law(E) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine,(F) and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(G) 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:27 Mal. 3:1