Luke
7:18-35
Lesson 119
7:18-35
Lesson 119
In this lesson:
John the Baptist has doubts.
John the Baptist has doubts.
Study Tip:
Click on the links and always refer to the Margin Notes in blue.
Click on the links and always refer to the Margin Notes in blue.
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
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Luke 7:18-35
Encouraging John the Baptist 18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32 They 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. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children. |
Margin notes:
"The disciples of John shewed him of all these things." (7:18) - "The disciples of John the Baptist told him all these things." John was in prison at the time (Matthew 11:2; Luke 3:19-20). So his excited disciples told him how Jesus had healed the centurion's servant and resurrected the widow's son in Luke 7:2-17 (reading 118). "Look we for another." (7:19) - John wants to be sure Jesus is the Messiah. "Tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." (7:22) - When John learns of these miracles, he will know that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies recorded in Isaiah 29:18-19, 35:5-6, and 61:1. "Whosoever shall not be offended in me." (7:23) - "Whoever has faith in me." "A reed shaken with the wind?" (7:24) - "A (weak) blade of grass blown with the wind?" "A man clothed in soft raiment?" (7:25) - "A man dressed in lavish clothes." John lived an austere life, his clothes were made from "camel's hair" (Matthew 3:4). "Live delicately." (7:25) - "Live luxuriously." "Much more than a prophet." (7:26) - John was a "prophet of the Highest" order (Luke 1:76). "It is written, Behold I send my messenger..." (7:27) - Written in Malachi 3:1. See also Isaiah 40:3. "All the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God." (7:29) - "All the people who heard him, even the tax collectors, agreed with God's way" (Matthew 21:32). "Lawyers." (7:30) - "Scribes." Often called "doctors of the law" (Luke 5:17), scribes were experts on Mosaic Law and the Old Testament prophecies. Predominantly Pharisees (one of four Jewish sects), scribes interpreted Mosaic Law, taught Judaism, and helped settle religious disputes. They were highly regarded in Jewish society, to the point where "If a man's father and teacher have lost anything, the teacher's loss should have the precedence - i.e., he must first be assisted in recovering it - the burden of a teacher is to be born in preference to that of a father, a teacher must be ransomed from captivity before one's own father." (From "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; page 981). Because scribes hindered people in their religious journey, burdened them with unnecessary religious legalisms, and tried to entrap Jesus (Luke 11:52-54), He condemned them as hypocrites (Luke 11:44). "Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation?" (7:31) - "What can I compare this generation to?" "They are like unto children." (7:32) - "They are childish." "Piped unto you." (7:32) - "Played the flute for you." "John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine." (7:33) - See Luke 1:15. John's meager meals were "locusts and wild honey" (Mark 1:6); still, they doubted his intentions. "And a winebibber." (7:34) - "And a drinker." Jesus doesn't live on locusts and wild honey, yet they doubt His intentions, too. |
Matthew 11:2-19 (lesson 21) also tells the story of Jesus reassuring John the Baptist.
New Living Translation
Luke 7:18-35
Jesus and John the Baptist
18 The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples,
19 and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"
20 John's two disciples found Jesus and said to him, "John the Baptist sent us to ask, 'Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?'"
21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.
22 Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard-the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.
23 And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"
24 After John's disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?
25 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces.
26 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
27 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.'
28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!"
29 When they heard this, all the people-even the tax collectors-agreed that God's way was right, for they had been baptized by John.
30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused John's baptism.
31 "To what can I compare the people of this generation?" Jesus asked. "How can I describe them?
32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
'We played wedding songs,
and you didn't dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn't weep.'
33 For John the Baptist didn't spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.'
34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!'
35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus and John the Baptist
18 The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples,
19 and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"
20 John's two disciples found Jesus and said to him, "John the Baptist sent us to ask, 'Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?'"
21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.
22 Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard-the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.
23 And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"
24 After John's disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?
25 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces.
26 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
27 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.'
28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!"
29 When they heard this, all the people-even the tax collectors-agreed that God's way was right, for they had been baptized by John.
30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused John's baptism.
31 "To what can I compare the people of this generation?" Jesus asked. "How can I describe them?
32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
'We played wedding songs,
and you didn't dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn't weep.'
33 For John the Baptist didn't spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.'
34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!'
35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Today's question:
1. What does "wisdom is justified of all her children" mean? (7:35)
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1. What does "wisdom is justified of all her children" mean? (7:35)
Let us know if your email address is changing.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. "Wisdom is justified of all her children" means that "wisdom is vindicated by its results." Despite their inconsistencies, the Pharisees had no problem rationalizing their so-called "wisdom." They criticized John for his austere lifestyle and then found fault with Jesus for not living an austere life (7:33-34). It is human nature to use selfish, faulty logic to justify our thoughts and actions. We believe what we want and come up with reasons to explain it. The children of wisdom are those who are wise. And in the end, wisdom always reveals (justifies) itself by its results.
Application thought for the day:
What inconsistencies are you defending in your life?
1. "Wisdom is justified of all her children" means that "wisdom is vindicated by its results." Despite their inconsistencies, the Pharisees had no problem rationalizing their so-called "wisdom." They criticized John for his austere lifestyle and then found fault with Jesus for not living an austere life (7:33-34). It is human nature to use selfish, faulty logic to justify our thoughts and actions. We believe what we want and come up with reasons to explain it. The children of wisdom are those who are wise. And in the end, wisdom always reveals (justifies) itself by its results.
Application thought for the day:
What inconsistencies are you defending in your life?
Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2020 evolke
© 2020 evolke