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? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

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 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 baptised by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptised 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 market-place and calling out to each other:

³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, 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.” ³⁵ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.’

The authority of Jesus questioned

20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ² ‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,’ they said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’

³ He replied, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell me: ⁴ John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?’

⁵ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Why didn’t you believe him?” ⁶ But if we say, “Of human origin,” all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’

⁷ So they answered, ‘We don’t know where it was from.’

⁸ Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’