8. Really, what did you expect to see? Someone dressed in fine clothes? Of course not. People who wear fine clothes are all in kings’ palaces.
9. So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, John is a prophet. But I tell you, he is more than that.
10. This Scripture was written about him: ‘Listen! I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.’ Malachi 3:1
11. “The truth is that John the Baptizer is greater than anyone who has ever come into this world. But even the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John.
12. Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, God’s kingdom has been going forward strongly. And people have been trying to take control of it by force.
13. Before John came, the Law of Moses and all the prophets told about the things that would happen.
14. And if you believe what they said, then John is Elijah. He is the one they said would come.
15. You people who hear me, listen!
16. “What can I say about the people who live today? What are they like? The people today are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group of children calls to the other group,
17. ‘We played flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a funeral song, but you were not sad.’
18. Why do I say people are like that? Because John came, not eating like other people or drinking wine, and people say, ‘He has a demon inside him.’
19. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He’s a friend of tax collectors and other sinners.’ But wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.”
20. Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles. He criticized these cities because the people there did not change their lives and stop sinning.