not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little
in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And all the people when
they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the
baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for
themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the
prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye are willing to
receive it, this is Elijah that is to come. He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear.

"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto
children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows and
say, 'We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did
not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say,
'He hath a demon.' The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they
say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans
and sinners!' And wisdom is justified of all her children."

THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

And Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high
captains, and the chief men of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias
danced in the midst, and pleased Herod, and them that sat at meat with
him; and the king said unto the damsel, "Ask of me whatsoever thou
wilt, and I will give it thee."

And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give
it to thee, unto the half of my kingdom."

And she went out, and said unto her mother, "What shall I ask?"

And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked,
saying, "I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of
John the Baptist."

And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and
of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her. And straightway the
king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his
head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head
on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her
mother.

And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his
corpse, and laid it in a tomb; and they went and told Jesus.

FORGIVENESS OF THE REPENTANT WOMAN.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And
he entered into the Pharisee's house,