Now John, when he had heard in his chains of the works of Christ, calling two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying: 'Art Thou He that is to come, or do we look for another?' (Now in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues and evil spirits, and to many that were blind He gave sight.) And answering He said to them: 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who shall not be scandalized in Me.' And when they had departed, Jesus began to say of John to the crowds: 'What went you out into the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind?'
'But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who are in costly apparel and live in delights are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send My angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee. Amen I say to you: among those born of women there has not risen a greater prophet than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.' And all the people that heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers despised the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized by him.
'And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent bear it away. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. But to whom shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace, who, crying to their companions, say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned, and you have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say: He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man who is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.'