27. "He is the one written about in Scripture. It says, " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way for you.' (Malachi 3:1)
28. I tell you, no one more important than John has ever been born. But the least important person in God's kingdom is more important than he is."
29. All the people who heard Jesus' words agreed that God's way was right. Even the tax collectors agreed. These people had all been baptized by John.
30. But the Pharisees and the authorities on the law did not accept God's purpose for themselves. They had not been baptized by John.
31. "What can I compare today's people to?" Jesus asked. "What are they like?
32. They are like children sitting in the market place and calling out to each other. They say, " 'We played a flute for you. But you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song. But you didn't cry.'
33. "That is how it has been with John the Baptist. When he came to you, he didn't eat bread or drink wine. And you say, 'He has a demon.'
34. But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And you say, 'This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He's a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." '
35. All who follow wisdom prove that wisdom is right."
36. One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee's house. He took his place at the table.
37. There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she came with a special sealed jar of perfume.
38. She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. She began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them.