⁷ As John’s^(A) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness^(B) to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(A) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light,^(A) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(A) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(B) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^(C)

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:

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.)

⁴ And so John the Baptist^(B) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(C) for the forgiveness of sins.^{(D) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

¹⁷ Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(A) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(B) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”

¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”^(A)