And the Lord said, ” To what shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Jesus used strong derision when dealing with the Pharisee’s of His day. Rebuking them for their hypocritical ways of identifying truth, because of their never being able to admit that they were wrong. So Jesus stated they were behaving childishly, determined not to be pleased, whether invited to “dance” a reference to Christ’s joyous ministry, “eating and drinking” with sinners (v.34), or being urged to “weep” a reference to John the Baptist’s call to repentance, and John’s more austere and no nonsense approach to ministry. Eating and drinking—All Jesus meant by this phrase is the ordinary life He lived that enabled Him to interact with the common people of His day. And it made reference to why John’s ministry differed so dramatically from His, though their message was the same. These different styles took away all of the Pharisee’s excuses of rejecting Christ. The very thing they wanted to see in Jesus, the rigid abstinence and Spartan lifestyle which characterized John the Baptist, instead of His meek and humbled approach at reaching out to others, yet, they rejected his message to them too. The real problem existed from the corruption of their own hearts, but they would not acknowledge even that about themselves. True wisdom is vindicated by its consequences, in what it produces in our life.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.(Proverbs 3:13-15) Long ago, a young king of Israel, Solomon wrote this proverb, indicating divine wisdom yields the richest treasures in this life, and is profitable at extending one’s life. “Length of days,” “riches,” and “honor,” Solomon was indicating that wisdom is basic to all of life for by it, God created everything. We know from the O.T. that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him the desires of his heart (1 Kings 3:5-15). Instead of asking for personal wealth, a long life, or death of his enemies, Solomon admitted that he felt like a little child who was not up for the challenge of leading a nation entrusted to him. So he asked God for an understanding heart to be a good ruler and judge righteously. God responded by assuring the king that he would get his request and far more. Here is a good point for us to learn by. God is willing to provide wisdom to those who ask out of a heart of humility. Like a little child do we come to our Father in heaven, asking Him for His help, His guidance. Where as these Pharisee’s were acting childish, not acknowledging the truth, when confronted by either John the Baptist or Christ. A ugly prideful behavior that still exists in the heart of man today. Jesus said,” unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3) A reference here to the participation in the millennial kingdom at the end of the age, fervently anticipated by the Pharisees and other Jews. Their problem was their thinking that keeping the mere religious externals qualified them for entrance into the kingdom rather than the needed spiritual transformation which Jesus emphasized. But in the case of Solomon, what begins well does not always end well. As great as Solomon’s wisdom was, what started as a dream ended like a nightmare. Late in life, he went so far as to build altars to the gods of his pagan wives on the hills overlooking Jerusalem. Although he had been given wisdom to offer justice to others, he ended up needing mercy for himself.
One of the first things we read about the youth of Jesus, the Bible says, as a young man, ” He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). What kind of wisdom was Jesus talking about in our beginning text? Who were her children? According to Luke, a religious Pharisee by the name of Simon invited Jesus home for a meal. Later, as they sat together at the man’s table, an unknown woman who had heard that Jesus was there, invited herself in. All Luke tells us about her identity is that she was ” a sinner.”Overwhelmed with emotion, this woman went to her knees at Jesus’ feet, washed His feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and then poured expensive perfume on His feet. Meanwhile, according to Luke, the Pharisee was thinking to himself that if Jesus were a prophet, He wouldn’t allow Himself to be touched by such a woman. Knowing the man’s heart, Jesus told His host a story about a creditor who mercifully forgave two debtors. One of them had owed far more than the other. With this much of the story told, Jesus asked Simon which of the two debtors would have a greater love for the one who showed mercy to both of them. The Pharisee saw where Jesus was going—Those who are forgiven much, love much; while those who are forgiven little, love little.(Luke 7:47) In these few words, Jesus foreshadowedthe scope of His wisdom. He would go on to win our hearts not merely by His justice but with His mercy. On the very hills that Solomon built altars to false gods, Jesus would offer Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world(John 1:29).
Beloved friend, We need to remember: Do not fear little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.(Luke 12:32) Having said that, God only requires that we come to Him on His terms. He made the way through His Son, Christ the Lord. By making Him our substitute for sin. When we come to the Lord in humbled confession of our guilt, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Which is wisdom from God indeed.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him!
Well said my brother. Steady as she goes! These truths are the underpinnings of the kingdom of God and I stand in awe of the wisdom of God as he has and will bring everything into submission to himself as we see his day approaching. He said “behold the fields are white unto harvest”, let us not grow tired of doing his will!
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