Luke 7:18-35

Easy-to-Read Version

John Sends Men to Ask Jesus a Question^(A)

¹⁸ John’s followers told him about all these things. John called for two of his followers. ¹⁹ He sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one we heard was coming, or should we wait for someone else?”

²⁰ So the men came to Jesus. They said, “John the Baptizer sent us to you with this question: ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for someone else?’”

²¹ Right then Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses and diseases. He healed those who had evil spirits and made many who were blind able to see again. ²² Then he said to John’s followers, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with leprosy are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are brought back to life. And the Good News is being told to the poor. ²³ Great blessings belong to those who don’t have a problem accepting me.”

²⁴ When John’s followers left, Jesus began talking to the people about John: “What did you people go out into the desert to see? Someone who is weak, like a stem of grass^[a] blowing in the wind? ²⁵ Really, what did you expect to see? Someone dressed in fine clothes? Of course not. People who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are all in kings’ palaces. ²⁶ So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, John is a prophet. But I tell you, he is more than that. ²⁷ This Scripture was written about him:

²⁸ I tell you, no one ever born is greater than John. But even the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John.”

²⁹ (When the people heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good. Even the tax collectors agreed. These were the people who were baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and experts in the law refused to accept God’s plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)

³¹ “What shall I say about the people of this time? What can I compare them to? What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group of children calls to the other children and says,

³³ John the Baptizer came and did not eat the usual food or drink wine. And you say, ‘He has a demon inside him.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man came eating and drinking. And you say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine! He is a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ ³⁵ But wisdom is shown to be right by those who accept it.”