Scripture Daily

Context No. 2791 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 7:28-35: in context

28“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.” 29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. 30But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves. 31“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ 33For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35Wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Jesus gives John the Baptist astonishing praise, no one born of women is greater, and then a twist, yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. The common people and the tax collectors, already baptized by John, agree that God is just; but the Pharisees and lawyers, who refused John's baptism, reject God's purpose for themselves.

Then Jesus names their game with an image. This generation is like children in the marketplace complaining, we played the flute and you would not dance, we sang a dirge and you would not weep. John came fasting, and they said he had a demon; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they called him a glutton and a friend of sinners. A heart set on refusing will always find a reason. John was too severe, Jesus too free; no messenger could satisfy people determined not to be satisfied. The problem was never the style but the will.

Do I find reasons to reject what God is saying because of who says it or how, when the real issue is that I do not want to change?

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