Posted: Feb 11, 08 12:21am
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42. Unbelief
M't:11:16: But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, M't:11:17: And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. M't:11:18: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. M't:11:19: The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
The generation Christ refers to in this parable are compared to those that had the benefit of John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’, and yet remained in unbelief and obstinacy. Having commended John, He condemns those who had Him among them and did not bring forth fruits of the Kingdom. Our God uses a variety of methods to bring us to conversion and salvation.
In this parable it is referred to as the piping to us of the Gospel, and His mourning towards us in afflicting providence’s. John came mourning to them, neither eating or drinking; he had mortified his life for the very sake of the doctrine he was called to preach. Jesus came eating and drinking to converse familiarly with all sorts of people; from this example Paul learned how to become all things to all men. Jesus says, “You have not danced, nor have you lamented,” meaning the people had neither been awakened by the best things, nor by the most terrible and plain things. They were resolved to be neither awakened by Christ or John.
They accused John, the forerunner of Christ and Christ, of untruths and they refused to believe their messages. The best of their actions had become the worst of the accusations of the multitudes. They were like children without understanding, and the market place they sat in was a place of idleness, rather than a place of religious business. They sat and they did not resolve to abide in the Gospel. Jesus says, “But wisdom is justified by her children.” Christ Jesus is Wisdom, the Gospel is Wisdom, and it is Wisdom from above.
The children which Wisdom justifies are those that accept the grace of Christ; those that are not ashamed of His Gospel. This generation is not passed away, but remains passed down in succession to following generations where some believe, and some believe not.
Did God call you into His Kingdom through a piping (joyful) occasion, or through a mourning (deep troubles)?
Who would you compare your life and ministry more like, John’s by way of stricter religion and lifestyle, or Jesus’ who went out amongst the sinners and publicans and mingled to spread the Good News?
If churches fail to have evangelism and outreach programs becoming exclusive rather than inclusive, would these churches have become more like the Pharisee’s and scribes in religious appearance?
