⁷ And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? ⁸ But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. ^9 [a]But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he, of whom it is written,

¹¹ Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is ^[c]but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if ye are willing to receive ^[d]it, this is Elijah, that is to come. ¹⁵ He that hath ears ^[e]to hear, let him hear. ¹⁶ But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows ¹⁷ and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not ^[f]mourn. ¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon. ¹⁹ The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of ^[g]publicans and sinners! And wisdom ^[h]is justified by her ^[i]works.

²⁴ And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? ²⁵ But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. ²⁶ But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written,

²⁸ I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is ^[b]but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he. ²⁹ And all the people when they heard, and the ^[c]publicans, justified God, ^[d]being baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, ^[e]being not baptized of him. ³¹ Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? ³² They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep. ³³ For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon. ³⁴ The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of ^[f]publicans and sinners! ³⁵ And wisdom ^[g]is justified of all her children.

¹⁶ The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the ^[a]gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.