John having heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
and having sent through his disciples, said to him,
"Are you the coming one, or should we expect another?"
And Jesus answering said to them,
"Go report to John what you hear and see:
the blind regain sight and the crippled walk,
lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear,
and the dead are raised and the poor receive the good message;
and blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
As these were going,
Jesus began to say to the crowds about John,
"What did you come out into the desert to see?
A reed shaken by wind?
But what did you come out to look at?
A person in soft clothes?
Look, the ones used to soft things
are in the houses of the kings.
But why did you come out?
To look at a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it has been written:
Look, I send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.
"Amen, I tell you, there has not arisen
among those born of women anyone greater than John the Baptist;
but the smallest in the sovereignty of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now
the sovereignty of heaven is forced, and the forceful seize it.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John;
and if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah who intended to come.
Let whoever has ears hear.
"But to what shall I liken this generation?
It is like children sitting in the marketplace
who calling to others say,
'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang dirges, and you did not mourn.'
"For John came neither eating nor drinking,
and they say, 'He has a demon.'
"The human son came eating and drinking,
and they say, 'Look, a gluttonous and wine-drinking person,
friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."
Matthew 11:2-19
And John's disciples reported to him about all these things.
And calling to him two of his disciples John sent to the Lord,
saying, "Are you the coming one, or should we expect another?"
And coming to him the men said,
"John the Baptist sent us to you saying,
'Are you the coming one, or should we expect another?'"
In that hour he healed many from diseases
and sufferings and bad spirits,
and he helped many people to see.
And answering he said to them,
"Go report to John what you saw and heard:
the blind regain sight, the crippled walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the poor receive the good message;
and blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
As John's messengers were going away,
he began to say to the crowds about John,
"What did you come out into the desert to see?
A reed shaken by wind?
But what did you come out to look at?
A person clothed in soft garments?
Look, the ones belonging in splendid garments
and luxury are in the palaces.
But what did you come out to look at? A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it has been written:
Look, I send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.
"I tell you, among those born of women
no one is greater than John;
but the smallest in the sovereignty of God is greater than he."
And all the people who heard, even the tax collectors,
acknowledged the justice of God,
having been baptized by John's baptism;
but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected
the purpose of God for themselves,
not having been baptized by him.
"To what, then, should I liken the people of this generation,
and what are they like?
They are like children in the marketplace
sitting and calling to each other who say,
'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang dirges, and you did not cry.'
"For John the Baptist has come
neither eating bread nor drinking wine,
and you say, 'He has a demon.'
"The human son has come eating and drinking,
and you say, 'Look, a gluttonous and wine-drinking person,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
Yes wisdom is justified by all of her children."
Luke 7:18-35
Jesus said, "Why did you come out into the desert?
To see a reed shaken by wind?
and to see a man clothed in soft garments?
Your kings and your great ones
are the ones clothed in soft garments,
but they do not know the truth."
Thomas 78
Jesus said, "From Adam until John the Baptist
among those born of women
no one is greater than John the Baptist,
so that his eyes will not be lost.
But I have said that whoever among you
who will become a little one shall know the sovereignty
and shall become higher than John."
Thomas 46