Messengers from John the Baptist

Luke 7:18-35

The disciples of John told him about all these things. ¹⁹ John, calling two of his disciples to himself, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”

²⁰ When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptiser has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”

²¹ In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. ²² Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ²³ Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

²⁶ “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

²⁸ “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptiser, yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”

²⁹ When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptised with John’s baptism. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptised by him themselves.

³¹ “To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? ³² They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’

³³ “For John the Baptiser came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ Wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Matthew 11:1-19

When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. ² Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?”

⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

⁹ “But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ “Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptiser; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

¹² “From the days of John the Baptiser until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

¹³ “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁶ “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions ¹⁷ and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’

¹⁸ “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”