Jesus Comments on John^(A)

²⁴ When John’s ·followers [^Lmessengers] left, Jesus began talking to the ·people [crowds] about John: “What did you go out into the ·desert [wilderness] to see? A reed ·blown by [shaken by; swaying in] the wind [^Csomething fragile and easily swept away]? ²⁵ [^LBut] What did you go out to see? A man dressed in ·fine [expensive; ^Lsoft] clothes? No, people who have ·fine [glorious; splendid] clothes and much ·wealth [luxury] ·live [are] in ·kings’ palaces [royal courts]. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, ·John is [^Lone who is] more than a prophet. ²⁷ This was written about him:

²⁸ I tell you, John is greater than any other person ·ever born [^Lborn to women], but even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John [^Cbecause John was part of the old age of preparation, those in the new kingdom age have greater blessings and status].”

²⁹ (When the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they all agreed that God’s ·teaching was good [way was right/just], because they had been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and experts on the law ·refused to accept [rejected] God’s ·plan [purpose] for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)

³¹ Then Jesus said, “·What shall I say about [^LTo what, therefore, shall I compare] the people of this ·time [^Lgeneration]? What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying,

³³ [^LFor] John the Baptist came and did not eat bread or drink wine, and you say, ‘He ·has [is possessed by] a demon in 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 [^LA glutton and a drunkard], and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ But wisdom is ·proved to be right [vindicated] by ·what it does [or the behavior of her followers; ^Lall her/its children; ^CWisdom is personified as a woman (Prov. 8), her “children” being those who respond favorably to the message of John and Jesus].”

⁷ As ·John’s followers [^Lthey] were leaving, Jesus began talking to the ·people [crowds] about John. Jesus said, “What did you go out into the ·desert [wilderness] to see? A reed ·blown by [shaken by; swaying in] the wind [^Ca metaphor for something weak or wavering]? ⁸ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in ·fine [expensive] clothes? No, those who wear ·fine [expensive; ^Lsoft] clothes ·live [are found] in kings’ ·palaces [houses]. ⁹ So why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This was written about him:

¹¹ I tell you the truth, John the Baptist is greater than any other person ·ever born [^Lborn to women], but even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John [^Cbecause John prepares for, but does not fully participate in the blessings of the kingdom]. ¹² ·Since the time [^LFrom the days] John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been ·going forward in strength [advancing forcefully; or subject to violence; suffering violent attacks], and ·forceful [or violent] people have been trying to ·take it by force [lay hold of it; or attack it]. ¹³ All the prophets and the law of Moses ·told about what would happen [^Lprophesied] until ·the time John came [^LJohn]. ¹⁴ And if you ·will believe what they said, you will believe that John is Elijah [^Lare willing to accept it, he is Elijah], whom they said would come. ¹⁵ ·Let those with ears use them and listen[^LThe one who has ears to hear, let him hear]!

¹⁶ “·What can I say about the people of this time? What are they like? [^LTo what shall I compare this generation?] They are like children sitting in the marketplace, who call out to each other,

¹⁸ [^LFor] John came and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, ‘He ·has [is possessed by] a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! ·He eats too much and drinks too much wine [^LHe’s a glutton and a drunkard], and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is ·proved to be right [vindicated] by ·what she does [or its deeds/actions/results; ^CWisdom is personified as a woman (Prov. 8), her “children” being those who respond favorably to the message of John and Jesus].”