⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out ^(A)into the wilderness to see? ^(B)A reed shaken by the wind?

⁶ But ^(A)let him ask in faith, ^(B)with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like ^(C)a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

³⁵ He was a burning and ^(A)shining lamp, and ^(B)you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, ^(A)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in ^(B)deceitful schemes.

²⁴ When John's messengers had gone, Jesus^[a] began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out ^(A)into the wilderness to see? ^(B)A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? ^(C)A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written,

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ²⁹ (^(E)When all the people heard this, and ^(F)the tax collectors too, they declared God just,^{[b] (G)}having been baptized with ^(H)the baptism of John, ^30 (I)but the Pharisees and ^(J)the lawyers ^(K)rejected ^(L)the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

^4 (C)John appeared, baptizing in ^(D)the wilderness and proclaiming ^(E)a baptism of ^(F)repentance ^(G)for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^(H)confessing their sins.

¹⁷ Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans ^(A)according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? ¹⁸ As surely as ^(B)God is faithful, ^(C)our word to you has not been Yes and No.

^18 (A)Take care then how you hear, ^(B)for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”