Luk 7:18-35 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Luke 7:18-23: 7:18-23 The disciples of John the Baptist: See study note on 5:33. John was now in prison (3:19-20 ), wondering whether Jesus was truly the Messiah, since he did not act like a powerful warrior–king who would overthrow the Romans. In response, Jesus defined his messianic role.

Summary for Luke 7:18-23: 7:18-23 ^a The disciples of John the Baptist: See study note on 5:33. John was now in prison (3:19-20 ^b), wondering whether Jesus was truly the Messiah, since he did not act like a powerful warrior–king who would overthrow the Romans. In response, Jesus defined his messianic role.
7:22 ^c the blind see, the lame walk: A series of allusions to Isaiah (Isa 26:19 ^d; 29:18-19 ^e; 35:5-6 ^f; 61:1-2 ^g) defines God’s salvation as the restoration of fallen creation. Jesus did not come to overthrow Roman rule over Judea (so he omits “captives ... will be freed” from his quotation of Isa 61:2 ^h); he came for the greater purpose of reversing the effects of sin and death.
7:23 ⁱ God blesses those who do not fall away because of me: The blessing is for those who are able to put aside their personal agendas and preconceived ideas about the Messiah and accept Jesus’ path of suffering.
7:27 ^j The quotation is from Mal 3:1 ^k. In Mal 4:5-6 ^l, this messenger is identified with the prophet Elijah. Though John denied that he was Elijah (John 1:21-23 ^m), he came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17 ⁿ) to prepare the way for the Messiah (see 3:4-6 ^o).
7:28 ^p Jesus praised John as the greatest person who ever lived under the old covenant. But even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than John. The blessings of the new covenant—free and complete forgiveness of sins, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and intimate knowledge of God—give believers in Jesus a new and greater position than even John enjoyed.
Summary for Luke 7:31-35: 7:31-35 ^q To what can I compare the people of this generation? Jesus compares Israel to fickle children in the marketplace who play games of make-believe. They called John the Baptist to dance (a wedding game), but the solemn prophet refused, calling them instead to mourning and repentance for their sins. Then they called on Jesus to mourn (a funeral game), but he was the bridegroom who announced the joyful celebration banquet of the Kingdom of God, so it would not have been fitting for him to mourn (cp. Mark 2:19-20 ^r).
7:33 ^s John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine: John lived an ascetic’s life of self-denial, appropriate to his prophetic role of announcing God’s Kingdom, the coming judgment, and the need for repentance and cleansing.
7:35 ^t But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it (or But wisdom is justified by all her children): In Proverbs, Wisdom is personified as a woman who calls God’s people to a life of godliness and obedience to God’s commands (Prov 1:20-33 ^u; 8:1–9:6 ^v). Wisdom’s children are those who live righteously, as God’s word instructs.