Mat 11:16, 23:36, Luk 16:8 | Barnes | STEP | Verses 16-19. But whereunto shall I liken , etc. Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of men. He says they were like children. Nothing pleased them. tie refers here to the plays or sport of children. Instrumental music, or piping, and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals, as a sign of joy. Children imitate their parents and others, and act over in play what they see done by others. Among their childish sports, therefore was probably an imitation of a wedding, or festival occasion. We have seen also, that funerals were attended with mournful music, and lamentation, and howling. It is not improbable that children also, in play, imitated a mournful funeral procession. One part are represented as sullen and dissatisfied. They would not enter into the play. Nothing pleased them. The others complained of it. We have, said they, taken all pains to please you. We have piped to you, played lively tunes, and engaged in cheerful sports, but you would not join with us; and then we have played different games, and imitated the mourning at funerals, and you are equally sullen; you have not lamented ; you have not joined with us. Nothing pleases you. So, said Christ, is this generation of men. John came one way; neither eating nor drinking , abstaining as a Nazarene, and you were not pleased with him. I, the Son of man, have come in a different manner, eating and drinking ; not practicing any austerity, but living like other men, and you are equally dissatisfied. Nay, you are less pleased, You calumniate him, and abuse me for not doing the very thing which displeased you in John. Nothing pleases you. You are fickle, changeable, inconstant, and abusive. Markets . Places to sell provisions; places of concourse, where also children flocked together for play. We have piped . We have played on musical instruments. A pipe was a wind instrument of music, often used by shepherds. Neither eating nor drinking . That is, abstaining from some kinds of food, and wine, as a Nazarene. It does not mean that he did not eat at all, but that he was remarkable for abstinence. He hath a devil . He is actuated by a bad spirit. He is irregular, strange, and cannot be a good man. The Son of man came eating and drinking . That is, living as others do; not practicing austerity; and they accuse him of being fond of excess, and seeking the society of the wicked. Gluttonous . One given to excessive eating. Wine-bibber . One who drinks much wine. A great drinker. Jesus undoubtedly lived according to the general customs of the people of his time. He did not affect singularity; he did not separate himself as a Nazarene; he did not practise severe austerities. He ate that which was common, and drank that which was common. As wine was a common article of beverage among the people, he drank it. It was the pure juice of the grape, and, for anything that can be proved, it was without fermentation, In regard to the kind of wine which was used, . No one should plead this example, at any rate, in favour of making use of the wines that are commonly used in this country--wines, many of which are manufactured here, and without a particle of the pure juice of the grape, and most of which are mixed with brandy, or with noxious drugs, to give them colour and flavour. Wisdom is justified of her children . The children of wisdom are the wise--those who understand. He means, that though that generation of Pharisees and fault-finders did not appreciate the conduct of John and himself, yet the wise, the candid--those who understood the reason of their conduct--would approve of, and do justice to it. (o) "But whereunto"

Matthew 11:16

Verses 16-19. But whereunto shall I liken, etc. Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of men. He says they were like children. Nothing pleased them. tie refers here to the plays or sport of children. Instrumental music, or piping, and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals, as a sign of joy. Children imitate their parents and others, and act over in play what they see done by others. Among their childish sports, therefore was probably an imitation of a wedding, or festival occasion. We have seen also, Mt 9:23 that funerals were attended with mournful music, and lamentation, and howling. It is not improbable that children also, in play, imitated a mournful funeral procession. One part are represented as sullen and dissatisfied. They would not enter into the play. Nothing pleased them. The others complained of it. We have, said they, taken all pains to please you. We have piped to you, played lively tunes, and engaged in cheerful sports, but you would not join with us; and then we have played different games, and imitated the mourning at funerals, and you are equally sullen; you have not lamented; you have not joined with us. Nothing pleases you. So, said Christ, is this generation of men. John came one way; neither eating nor drinking, abstaining as a Nazarene, and you were not pleased with him. I, the Son of man, have come in a different manner, eating and drinking; not practicing any austerity, but living like other men, and you are equally dissatisfied. Nay, you are less pleased, You calumniate him, and abuse me for not doing the very thing which displeased you in John. Nothing pleases you. You are fickle, changeable, inconstant, and abusive.

Markets. Places to sell provisions; places of concourse, where also children flocked together for play.

We have piped. We have played on musical instruments. A pipe was a wind instrument of music, often used by shepherds.

Neither eating nor drinking. That is, abstaining from some kinds of food, and wine, as a Nazarene. It does not mean that he did not eat at all, but that he was remarkable for abstinence.

He hath a devil. He is actuated by a bad spirit. He is irregular, strange, and cannot be a good man.

The Son of man came eating and drinking. That is, living as others do; not practicing austerity; and they accuse him of being fond of excess, and seeking the society of the wicked.

Gluttonous. One given to excessive eating.

Wine-bibber. One who drinks much wine. A great drinker. Jesus undoubtedly lived according to the general customs of the people of his time. He did not affect singularity; he did not separate himself as a Nazarene; he did not practise severe austerities. He ate that which was common, and drank that which was common. As wine was a common article of beverage among the people, he drank it. It was the pure juice of the grape, and, for anything that can be proved, it was without fermentation, In regard to the kind of wine which was used, Jn 2:10. No one should plead this example, at any rate, in favour of making use of the wines that are commonly used in this country--wines, many of which are manufactured here, and without a particle of the pure juice of the grape, and most of which are mixed with brandy, or with noxious drugs, to give them colour and flavour.

Wisdom is justified of her children. The children of wisdom are the wise--those who understand. He means, that though that generation of Pharisees and fault-finders did not appreciate the conduct of John and himself, yet the wise, the candid--those who understood the reason of their conduct--would approve of, and do justice to it.

(o) "But whereunto" Lk 7:31

Matthew 23:36

Verse 36. Upon this generation. The destruction of Jerusalem took place about forty years after this was spoken. See the next chapter.

Luke 16:8

Verse 8. The lord commended. Praised, or expressed admiration at his wisdom. These are not the words of Jesus, as commending him, but a part of the narrative or parable. His master commended him--saw that he was wise and considerate, though he was dishonest.

The unjust steward. It is not said that his master commended him because he was unjust, but because he was wise. This is the only thing in his conduct of which there is any approbation expressed, and this approbation was expressed by his master. This passage cannot be brought, therefore, to prove that Jesus meant to commend his dishonesty It was a commendation of his shrewdness or forethought; but the master could no more approve of his conduct as a moral act than he could the first act of cheating him.

The children of this world. Those who are devoted to this world; who live for this world only; who are careful only to obtain property, and to provide for their temporal necessities. It does not mean that they are peculiarly wicked and profligate, but only that they are worldly, and anxious about earthly things. See Mt 13:22, 2Ti 4:10.

Are wiser. More prudent, cunning, and anxious about their particular business. They show more skill, study more plans, contrive more ways to provide for themselves, than the children of light do to promote the interests of religion.

In their generation. Some have thought that this means in their manner of living, or in managing their affairs. The word generation sometimes denotes the manner of life, Gen 6:9, 37:2. Others suppose that it means toward or among the men of their own age. They are more prudent and wise than Christians in regard to the people of their own time; they turn their connection with them to good account, and make it subserve their worldly interests, while Christians fail much more to use the world in such a manner as to subserve their spiritual interests.

Children of light. Those who have been enlightened from above--who are Christians. This may be considered as the application of the parable. It does not mean that it is more wise to be a worldly man than to be a child of light, but that those who are worldly show much prudence in providing for themselves; seize occasions for making good bargains; are active and industrious; try to turn everything to the best account, and thus exert themselves to the utmost to advance their interests; while Christians often suffer opportunities of doing good to pass unimproved; are less steady, firm, and anxious about eternal things, and thus show less wisdom. Alas! this is too true; and we cannot but reflect here how different the world would be if all Christians were as anxious, and diligent, and prudent in religious matters as others are in worldly things.

(b) "children of light" Jn 12:36, Eph 5:8