Luk 7:24-30 | Barnes

Luke 7:24-30

Verse 25.

(q) "in kings' courts" 2Sam 19:35, Est 1:3,11 Verse 26.

(r) "A prophet" Lk 1:76 Verse 27.

(s) "Behold, I sold" Mal 3:1, Lk 1:15-17 Verse 29. The people. The common people.

That heard him. That heard John.

The publicans. The tax-gatherers, the worst kind of people, who had, however, been converted.

Justified God. Considered God as just or right in the counsel which he gave by John --to wit, in calling men to repentance, and in denouncing future wrath on the impenitent. Comp. Mt 11:19.

Being baptized, &c. They showed that they approved of the message of God by submitting to the ordinance which he commanded--the ordinance of baptism. This verse and the following are not to be considered as the words of Luke, but the continuation of the discourse of our Lord. He is saying what took place in regard to John. Among the common people he was approved and obeyed; among the rich and learned he was despised.

(t) "justified" Ps 51:4, Rom 3:4 (u) "baptized" Mt 3:5,6, Lk 3:12 Verse 30. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected, &c. It appears from Mt 3:7 that some of the Pharisees came to John to be baptized; but still this is entirely consistent with the supposition that the great mass of Pharisees and lawyers rejected him.

The counsel of God. The counsel of God toward them was the solemn admonition by John to repent and be baptized, and be prepared to receive the Messiah. This was the command or revealed will of God in relation to them. When it is said that they rejected the counsel of God, it does not mean that they could frustrate his purposes, but merely that they violated his commands. Men cannot frustrate the real purposes of God, but they can contemn his messages, they can violate his commands, and thus they can reject the counsel which he gives them, and treat with contempt the desire which he manifests for their welfare.

Against themselves. To their own hurt or detriment. God is wise and good. He knows what is best for us. He, therefore, that rejects what God commands, rejects it to his own injury. It cannot be well for any mortal to despise what God commands him to do.

(3) "rejected" or, "frustrated" (v) "counsel of God" Acts 20:27 (4) "against themselves" or, "within themselves"