April 14, 2023

JUSTIFIED BY THE CHILDREN

Luke 7:31-35

And the Lord said, “To what then 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.”

Encouraging Words

Jesus had just been reprimanded by the leaders of His church for hanging out with sinners and sharing His teachings in the midst of the common world. The Pharisees and Sadducees were so wrapped up in their teachings (not God's) and their traditions (not God's) that they could not engage with the world that God specifically called them to take His message to. We must always be careful of getting so attached to the ways that our faith practice worships God that we lose sight of God Himself. Jesus responds and rebukes these leaders by proclaiming that the proof of His approach is in the numbers and sincerity of His children. History has born this out. Glory be to God!