Matthew 11:16–19
16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Focused Thinking:
“But to what shall I compare this generation?”
This phrase is a common rabbinic introduction to a metaphor.
What does the word “generation” refer to?
The word generation refers to Jews who rejected both John the Baptist and Jesus.
- They rejected the message of John the Baptist.
- They rejected the man of Jesus.
- They rejected the man, the message and the mission.
- Ultimately, they rejected Jesus as the Messiah.
What is the attitude that Jesus is confronting here?
The Jews were cynical, skeptical and ultimately unbelieving.
What is the comparison that Jesus is making here?
Jesus compared them to children sitting in the marketplaces, playing games in the public square where the city’s business was conducted.
These games may copy the adults (such as playing instruments for a wedding or mourning at a funeral procession). The thrust is that some of the children called out to others to join them, but their companions ignored their invitation and went on playing their own games.
Jesus’ generation, like the children in the square, was unresponsive to the calls issued by John the Baptist and by Jesus.
It is like children…and who say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
The one “mourning” refers to John the Baptist, who brought the message of confession and repentance to avoid the wrath of God.
He came neither eating nor drinking, yet that did not satisfy the Jews. John was an ascetic; he did not seek out social occasions. They assumed that he had a demon (or was merely deranged).
In contrast, the one “playing the flute” referred to Jesus (here he called himself Son of Man), who came eating and drinking.
He joined in social occasions, and his diet was like other people’s. But that did not satisfy the Jews either. They simply labeled him as a glutton and a drunkard who hung out with the lowest sort of people.
What is Jesus’ point when He says, “Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds”?
This is God’s wisdom, personified as a woman by her deeds.
- Pro 1:20; 4:6; 7:4; 8:1
God’s wisdom is seen in Jesus’ deeds.
- Jesus miracles revealed His power.
- Jesus miracles validated His teaching.
The Jews and others might reject Jesus’ miracles and teaching, but that will not hinder the kingdom’s arrival.
Personal Application:
Who are we unresponsive to today?
They were unresponsive to John and Jesus.
Where are the true prophets today?
Who is warning us today?
What does it look like to be a prophet today?
What does a prophet speak for today?
A prophet must speak for confession.
A prophet must speak for repentance.
A prophet must speak for the fruits of repentance.
- Love God
- Love People
- Make Disciples
A prophet must speak for individual responsibility.
A prophet must speak for corporate responsibility.
- The Individual / Neighbor
- The Church
- The Country
I must find new ways to speak for the good of our country.
We don’t want to be known for what we are against; we want to be known for what we are for. That doesn’t mean we can’t speak against anything. There are times we must speak against something, but ultimately the people must know what we are FOR instead of AGAINST.
What does a prophet speak against today?
We must LOVE WHO God LOVES, but we must HATE WHAT God HATES.
What messages from God are we are unresponsive to today?
I think the church today is largely against the message of confession and repentance.
- We want to have our ears tickled today.
- We have become comfortable and passive as Christians today.
- We criticize and blame the government but we aren’t taking the responsibility as the church to be the difference maker.
- The world isn’t the problem because sinners are going to act like sinners.
- The church is the problem because saints are living like sinners.
The problem isn’t the darkness of the people living in the dark.
The problem is the lack of light shining in the darkness.
The church is an unstoppable force, but the ones who can stop the church is the church.
What do I need to teach?
I need to call the church to a high standard of loving God, loving people and making disciples.
I need to call the church to fulfill the vision that “Love Works” and when “Love Works,” “Love Wins!”
I need to call our people to quit living for themselves and start living for Christ.
- Start living for the good of man and the glory of God.
- Start living for the unsaved.
- Start living for the return of our Savior.
I need to be like the Sons of Issachar for this day and time.
1 Chronicles 12:32
Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do,
I need to be more committed to educating myself about current affairs nationally and globally.
I need to do a better of understanding how world events are lining up with biblical prophecy.
Finally, I need to teach on these matters and the experts known to our people.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, the needs of ministry are so overwhelming. First and foremost, help me be the man of God You desire me to be. Second, give me the ability to manage my time for personal growth and for growth as a teacher and leader. Father, help me grow as a prophet and to know what is means to fulfill those responsibilities in this day and time. Father, help me to learn enough and know enough to lead well, but also help me to delegate to the body of Christ so that the body doesn’t suffer from my weaknesses or my lack of time. Father, help me delegate what can and does need to be delegated in order for our church to be fully educated and challenged in the area of world events, end times and the second coming. Father, give me ability to manage our church more effectively so I can strike the proper balance between leading and teaching.
Father, help me the prophet that our church, our city and our country needs. Father, raise up other prophets as well. Start a true revival in cities across our country and across our world. Father, create an uprising from our church. Help us to not be passive, but to be courageous in everything we do. Father, help me and others issue the call to rise up and fight. Help us to fight the good fight. Father, make us a body of believers who truly believe that You can do the impossible in and through us. Father, please give us Your specific vision for our church, for our city and for our country. Father, give us great favor this fall. Give me the ability to truly lead and teach well. Father, put Your vision in our hearts. Cause Your vision to fall on good soil. Father, give us the ability to truly cast an inspiring and life-changing vision. Father, raise up the leaders to fuel this vision.
Father, give us the ability to build the infrastructure of the church to handle the vision. Father, give Jason and Chris the wisdom and leadership needed for church to run effectively and efficiently. Give them the ability to design processes that are simple and clear. Help us remove any obstacles from the process and make it as easy as possible for people to follow and obey You. Father, help us make it easy for people to get involved. Help us make it easy for people to get connected and to start serving. Father, give us the ability to truly build a church that is holy and healthy. Give us the ability to build a church that is so much more than a Sunday morning experience. Give us the ability to build a church that lives in and through our people 24/7. Father, give our people the ability to live their lives for YOU and YOU ALONE.
Father, I pray that we will destroy the idols in our lives. Please destroy the idols of the self, money and pleasure. Father, give us the conviction and courage to repent of loving our idols. Give us the ability to turn from our idols and to turn toward You. Father, make us a people who bear fruit that is in keeping with repentance. Father, I don’t want to play a religious game; I want to experience the real thing.
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