Luk 7:18-35 | ISV | STEP | John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus John's disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples

Luke 7:18-35

18 John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus Matthew 11:2-19John's disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciplesMatt 11:2 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”

20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?’”

21 At that time Jesus ^{▼▼Lit. he} had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits and had given sight to many who were blind. 22 So he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news.Isa 35:5; Matt 11:5; Luke 4:18 23 How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”

24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus ^{▼▼Lit. he} began to speak to the crowds about John. ^{▼▼Lit. about John} “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?Matt 11:7 25 Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27 This is the man about whom it is written,Mal 3:1

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.’ ^{▼▼Mal 3:1; Exod 23:20}

28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

29 All the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, ^{▼▼Or acknowledged God's judgment} for they had been baptized with John's baptism.Matt 3:5; Luke 3:12 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's plan for themselves ^{▼▼Or God's decision in their case} by refusing to be baptized by him.Acts 20:27 31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?Matt 11:16 32 They are like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,

‘A wedding song we played for you,

the dance you did but scorn.

A woeful dirge we chanted, too,

but then you did not mourn.’

33 For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, ‘He has a demon!’Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6; Luke 1:15 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35 Absolved from every act of sin,Matt 11:19

is wisdom by her kith and kin.” ^{▼▼Lit. by all her children; other mss. read by her children}