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?

God’s Chosen Servant

¹⁵ Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.^(A)

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.^(A)

¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.

³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.^{(A) 31} The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.^(B)

² Large crowds followed him, and he healed them^(A) there.

A Warning Against Hypocrisy^(A)(B)

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: