|
|
 |
THE PARABLE OF THE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE MARKET-PLACE(Matthew 11:16-19; Luke 7:31-35) 16 To
what can I compare this generation?
They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling
out to others: (But wisdom is proved right by all her children. Luke 7:35)
A JUDGMENTAL GENERATION CONDEMNED Jesus noticed children at play outdoors and drew a parallel with his contemporaries, or “this generation”. They were like complaining and wilful children arguing with one another because some wanted to play a wedding game, and some wanted to a play a funeral game, and some refused to play at all, so the children could not be satisfied with either game. They could not be pleased with anything. Similarly, Jesus said, there was no pleasing the general public in Israel. They were unreasonable and spoilt like children that would not play with others unless they were in charge of the game. The crowds complained about both John’s asceticism and Christ’s socializing and his love of people. Consequently Israel failed to discern God’s wisdom or hear God’s call in both these ministries with their different life-styles. With this parable Jesus condemned the irresponsibility of his generation for their rejection of both John the Baptist and himself. A favoured generation ignored the best of preaching. God holds us responsible for the truth that we have been given. (Romans 2:11-16) God eventually abandons those who deliberately chose to persistently ignore him. “Wisdom” (verse 19) is John and Jesus, and “children” are those who accept their message from God. God’s “wisdom” is “justified” (or “vindicated”) by the “actions” of those who responded positively to John and Jesus whom a prejudiced generation had ignored. Those who wish to avoid the truth about the message usually criticise some aspect of the messenger. Focusing
upon the style and method of a preacher can easily become an excuse
for not taking notice of his message.
Furthermore it is easy for Christians to become judgmental
of other churches, or condemn the behaviour of those outside the
Church, when similar criticisms are true of some within the Church. A
FAVOURED GENERATION John
The Baptist A
favoured generation had seen the greatest preacher in Israel for
400 years, the Elijah of prophecy (Matthew 11:14; Malachi 4:5),
and experienced a challenging revival:
“People went out to him [John]
from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan
River.” (Matthew 3:5-6)
His ministry was the climax of the Law and the prophets (Matthew
11:13). Jesus said
of John, “Among those born
of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.”
(Matthew 11:11) John
was the greatest man to live under the old covenant.
However, it was the beginning of the new covenant and John
was a link between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Jesus
The Messiah The
ministry of Jesus as the Messiah was even more powerful in word
and action than any of the previous prophets in Israel.
The apostle Peter summarized Christ’s ministry: “God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how
he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power
of the devil, because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38).
The title “Son of Man”
(verse 19) was frequently used by Jesus of himself as an indirect
reference to the Messiah.
While the phrase emphasized his humanity, several images
from the Old Testament also picture
Jesus as a person with divine authority who was vindicated by God,
despite his rejection by his generation. Many in Israel, especially the religious leaders, rejected
both John and Jesus, like spoilt children who were upset with their
friends. A
CHILDISH GENERATION John
and Jesus had contrasting life-styles and different messages.
But Israel found fault with both of them.
For them John was too eccentric, a crazy fanatic, (“He
has a demon.”)
and Jesus was too worldly and too friendly with “sinners”
or bad company, (“Here
is a glutton and a drunkard.”)
The
Jews had an exaggerated picture of John the Baptist as a stern and
fanatically uncompromising prophet, compared to a liberal and loose
living Jesus who mixed freely with social outcasts, with a message
of salvation by grace. The
religious leaders condemned Jesus as an apostate, or a traitor to
his faith, because he mixed with those who were considered to be
beyond salvation, like prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus
compared his generation to childish children who were pleased with
nothing that God did. It was a generation that would not mourn to John’s lament or
dance to Christ’s happy tune.
The phrase “this generation”
was used by Matthew of Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.[2]
While the common people “ held that John was a prophet”, the Pharisees and spiritual leaders
did not honour John as such (Matthew 21:23, 26).
This parable revealed their stubborn unbelief and spiritual
blindness. It was not
just the legalistic Pharisees, but also “this generation,” which strongly disapproved of these two ministries.
Spiritual privileges are an immense advantage, but a fearful
responsibility if neglected. In
several parables, such as the loving father (Luke 15:11–32) and
the two debtors (Luke 7:36-50), Jesus defended his association with
“sinners” by illustrating
God’s love to the worst of them.
In these stories, the sulky older brother, whose self-righteous
pride kept him from the family celebration and the Pharisees are
represented in the characters of Simon, the spiritually blind Pharisee. GOD’S
JUDGMENT AND GOD’S GRACE John
the Baptist lived ascetically,
“neither eating nor drinking” i.e., neither attending parties
nor drinking alcohol. Although he drew large crowds and many in Israel repented,
yet Israel as a whole rejected him, even suggesting that he was
demon possessed. However,
when Jesus came eating and drinking he was accused of being a “bon
vivant” (one who enjoys the good things of life), guilty of gluttony,
drunkenness, and mixing with social undesirables.
Their lives reflected their different messages: John focussed
on God’s judgment while Jesus emphasized God’s grace.
If Israel had understood John, it would have understood Jesus,
and vice versa. The
children who wanted to play the glad wedding game represent the
Jews who wanted John the Baptist to “lighten up” and moderate his
fierce message of repentance and judgment, “We
played the flute for you, and you did not dance.”
On the other hand, the children who wanted to play the sad
funeral game represent the Jews who wanted Jesus to “mourn”
that is, to be less affable and more seriously religious, “We
sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”
Since neither John nor Jesus lived up to their unreasonable
expectations, they criticized and condemned both ministries.
This interpretation puts the children’s complaints in the
same chronological order of the ministries of John and Jesus. THE
CONCLUSION OF THE PARABLE The
closing proverb has led to some debate because Luke has
“all her children” and Matthew “by
her actions.” In
the Old Testament book of Proverbs “Wisdom” is a personification
of God. When
Jesus says, “Wisdom is vindicated
by her deeds,” he refers to himself, the ultimate wise teacher
and prophet. The
proverb is also interpreted to mean that the claims of wisdom are
proved true by her children i.e. those who accept the message of
John and Jesus. Wisdom
in the Bible is practical and concerned with right living. John
and Jesus had both been criticized and rejected for the way they
lived, but their lifestyles are both recognized as being wise by
those like repentant tax collectors and prostitutes who were rejected
as hopeless outcasts by Israel’s religious leaders.
What is right has a way of being justified in the long term. FOR
REFLECTION
Heavenly
Father, remind us that your character reflects both the ministries
of John and Jesus, and that you are a God of judgment and a God
of love. Remind us that the Christian life is a feast, and not a funeral.
Help us to mourn and dance at the right time.
Amen. Jim
Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Teaching [1]
Since the
expression “eating and
drinking” can refer to more than just food, translators
have tried “When the Son of man came, he enjoyed eating and
drinking (wine),” “ate and drank with great enjoyment,” or “ate
and drank well.” [2] See Matthew 12:41-42, 45; 23:36; 24:34. |
