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The Book of Luke, Jesus’ support of John the Baptist, Part III – Lesson 92
Luke 7:29- 34, And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35But wisdom is justified of all her children.
The Lord Jesus Christ is very straight with his words as he addresses the people who had heard his exchange with the disciples of John.
He had asked them if they had gone out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken in the wind when they had gone to see John.
But in summary he painted a word picture of them as reeds blowing with the wind, fickle, moving from one position to the other and accepting none.
He pictures them as childish, never ready to cooperate and to receive truth no matter how it is presented to them by God whether it be by John or Jesus Christ.
Their prejudice and preconceived ideas had already closed the door of their hearts.
Nothing that God did would satisfy them for they intended to remain as they were – foolish, arrogant and evil for the fool says in his heart there will be no God for me.
So Jesus declares the men of Israel to be as children, childish, stubborn, wanting their own way, not satisfied with God’s provision.
He intimates that the people used to be filled with enthusiasm about John, that they were even in awe of him and did not find fault with his austere ways and his call to repentance.
But now there is talk that he is too harsh, and unsociable; his message is too severe.
He may even be possessed by a devil.
And Jesus intimates that the people are also turning against Him, the Son of man.
Some even point their finger at him and say he demands self denial in others but he himself is a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
But the Lord Jesus Christ points out that such wavering of opinion is not a result of wisdom for he says in verse 35:
But wisdom is justified of all her children.
The Amplified Bible says it this way: Yet wisdom is vindicated (shown to be true and divine) by all her children [by their life, character, and deeds].
This statement is a challenge to the people to look at the results of what wisdom accomplishes in those who let it operate in them.
John, Jesus, Levi, Jacob, whoever, who do we believe, they say?
Look at what is accomplished by the leader and the follower.
Look at what the wisdom of John the Baptist accomplished, when he insisted on repentance and conversion.
The wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, when he held out the hope of salvation, was shown to be fully justified or vindicated, shown to be true and divine in the hearts and lives of all her children.
These were the children who allowed themselves to be guided by that wisdom.
But the attitude of the listeners who Jesus was addressing revealed that they were not the children of wisdom - they being like foolish and arrogant children, childish in their ways.
John and Jesus each were called by God for a particular mission.
Each had his distinct mission to perform and each carried out his assignment.
Jesus who is wisdom personified, carried out his mission perfectly; without any fault whatsoever.
Both John and Jesus were right and true and their words were to be honored and received by the people.
They are not to be compared against each other and sides chosen or both rejected.
Paul said the same thing when he said he planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase.
Paul was not in this alone neither was Jesus or John.
John proclaimed the good news.
Jesus proclaimed the good news but not only that, he came into this world that there would be good news to proclaim.
Wisdom’s children, then are all those who were wise enough to take to heart the message of both John and of Jesus.
Wisdom is vindicated (shown to be true and divine) by what it does to people who by grace possess and exercise it.
The demonstration of true wisdom in the lives of men and women is unspeakable peace and joy in their hearts.
Wisdom’s children are a blessing to others and they will glorify God.
The Lord Jesus Christ tells us here that testimony is important, for those who let wisdom operate in them, will bring forth fruit such that wisdom’s workings will be seen to be most valuable and most important.
In other words the listeners would judge Jesus Christ by the results of his works in his children.
Isn’t that how you are judged as a parent?
Do not people look at your children to get a estimation of you?
See how important it is to have a testimony for our Savior will be judged by that testimony.
See how important it is to honor your father and your mother for it reveals your father and your mother to others.
There will be an examination of us to see if there is anything to this Jesus Christ that we love and serve.
I’m afraid that many judge our Lord by the testimony of false believers and come to horrible and false conclusions.
It is up to true believer’s to project a pure testimony of what wisdom has done, for wisdom is vindicated (shown to be true and divine) by her children. |