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Matthew 11:7-19
As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces.What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.“ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.Let anyone who has ears listen.“ To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn!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,‘ Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
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Luke 15:18
I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him,“ Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
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John 1:6
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
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Matthew 17:11-12
“ Elijah is coming and will restore everything,” he replied.“ But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
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Matthew 21:25-32
Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say to us,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’But if we say,‘ Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet.”So they answered Jesus,“ We don’t know.” And he said to them,“ Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.“ What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said,‘ My son, go work in the vineyard today.’“ He answered,‘ I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went.Then the man went to the other and said the same thing.‘ I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go.Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said,“ The first.” Jesus said to them,“ Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.
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Daniel 4:25-26
You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.As for the command to leave the tree’s stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
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Luke 7:28-35
I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”( And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)“ To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other: We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t weep!For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say,‘ He has a demon!’The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say,‘ Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
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John 1:19-28
This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him,“ Who are you?”He didn’t deny it but confessed,“ I am not the Messiah.”“ What then?” they asked him.“ Are you Elijah?”“ I am not,” he said.“ Are you the Prophet?”“ No,” he answered.“ Who are you, then?” they asked.“ We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”He said,“ I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord— just as Isaiah the prophet said.”Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.So they asked him,“ Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”“ I baptize with water,” John answered them.“ Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him.He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.