19. John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we look for another?”
20. When they appeared before Him, the men said, “John the Immerser sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”
21. At this very hour He was healing many of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits; and He granted sight to many who were blind.
22. And answering, He said to them, “Go report to John what you saw and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, those with tza'arat are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.
23. Blessed is he who is not led to stumble because of Me.”
24. And after John’s messengers left, He began to speak about John to the crowds. “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
25. No? So what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine garments? Look, those who wear finery and live in luxury are in the palaces of kings!
26. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, even more than a prophet.
27. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
28. I say to you, there is no one greater than John among those born of women; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29. And when all the people heard, even the tax collectors, they affirmed God’s justice, because they had been immersed with John’s immersion.
30. But the Pharisees and Torah lawyers, not having been immersed by John, declared God’s purpose invalid for themselves.
31. “So then, to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
32. They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other, saying, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We sang a dirge, and you didn’t weep.’