27
This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'
28
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29
And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
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But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
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And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?
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They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.'
33
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'
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The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
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But wisdom is justified by all her children."
36
Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.
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And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
38
and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
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Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."
40
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it."
41
"There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
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And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"
43
Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."
44
Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
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You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.
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You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
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Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
48
Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
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And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50
Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."