21. At that very time Jesus cured many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind people. 22 He answered John's messengers, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin-diseases are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. 23 How happy are those who have no doubts about me!"

24. After John's messengers had left, Jesus began to speak about John to the crowds: "When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind? 25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? Really, those who dress like that and live in luxury are found in palaces! 26 Tell me, what did you expect to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you - you saw much more than a prophet. 27 For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’ 28 I tell you,” Jesus added, "John is greater than any man ever born; but he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John.

29. All the people heard him; especially the tax collectors were the ones who had obeyed God's righteous demands and had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law rejected God's purpose for themselves, and refused to be baptized by John.

31. Jesus continued, "Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market place. One group shouts to the other, ‘We played wedding music for you, but you would not dance! We sang funeral songs, but you would not cry!’ 33 John the Baptist came, and he fasted and drank no wine, and you said, 'He has a demon in him!' 34 The Son of Man came, and he ate and drank, and you said, 'Look at this man! He is a glutton and wine-drinker, and is a friend of tax collectors and outcasts!' 35 God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by all who accept it."

Jesus at the Hope of Simon the Pharisee

36. A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. 37 In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume 38 and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she leads!"

40. Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Yes, Teacher ," he said, "tell me."

MADE CLEAN: THIS DISEASE WAS CONSIDERED TO MAKE A PERSON RITUALLY UNCLEAN.