Luke 7:18-35--Messengers from John the Baptist

Luke 7:18-35
English Standard Version

Messengers from John the Baptist
18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

​33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

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We now shift back to John the Baptist for a second.  He's been put in prison by Herod because John was preaching against the affair that Herod was having with his brother's wife.  However, John remained faithful to the Word of God while in prison and spoke the truth to Herod every opportunity that he was given, and Herod grew fond of John and asked for an audience with him quite often, though Herod knew that he wasn't always going to like what John had to say, he knew John was always going to be honest with him.

John also seemed to have some favored status for a political prisoner as he was able to have his disciples come and visit him and bring messages back and forth.  It seems that they have been telling John everything that Jesus has been doing with the various miracles and his preaching and teaching.  This passage starts off that John heard about "all these things" which probably indicates everything   John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the promised Messiah or if they should be looking and waiting for someone else.

Jesus did not give a direct "Yes" or "No" answer to this, which is interesting because He had made some very direct statements about His identity and this is one of the most direct questions of Jesus' identity that we've seen in the book of Luke so far.  Jesus could have answered by saying "I AM" (the divine name of God) and made everyone gasp that He not only claimed to be the Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ), but God in the flesh, but Jesus didn't do that.  He chose not to provoke the Pharisees because the timing wasn't right yet for Him to be so direct--we'll see that happen right before His crucifixion where He's in control of what he says when and where he says it to move things along how He wanted when he wanted.

Jesus tells the disciples of John that are messengers for him to go back and report everything they have seen (which apparently they have already done) and to let His words and His works speak for themselves.  They seem to be content with that answer and after they leave, Jesus tells the others around Him how John is special because he was the harbinger promised to prepare the way for the Messiah and that there had never been anyone greater born among women (with the exception of Jesus).  That must have shocked the audience to think that Jesus was saying that John the Baptist was greater than Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, and anyone else that they knew from the Old Testament.  What a statement to be made from the Son of God who you know was not going to lie or exaggerate here in any way that would be interpreted as being dishonest, for He cannot lie.

Jesus during this time of praise for John really makes it about the hearts of the people and what they came out to see and how they responded to it, for John showed that he was a true prophet that was willing to face hardship of all kinds to be true to the message he was given.  Luke then gives an "aside" to explain to explain something about what's going on in the hearts and minds of the listeners (as revealed by the Holy Spirit).

Jesus then spoke directly to the people about the condition of their hearts (another evidence that He was indeed God in the flesh).  He said they are like children in the marketplace--in the way of the adults trying to do business and acting inappropriately for what was going on around them whether that be something joyous or somber.  The children are only interested in themselves and what they want in that moment.  While Jesus will later tell us that we need to come to Him in faith like little children and that we should not prevent the little children from coming to Him, He knew how the people looked at children as an annoyance and that they would understand what He was trying to say about them.  John the Baptist came to them trying to get them to be somber and repent and they refused to listen to him because he was one who took a Nazarite vow and wouldn't drink any alcohol.  Jesus came again preaching to them the same message but it was a time of celebration because people should have celebrated the time of His coming.  Jesus hung out with sinners and tax collectors who were willing to celebrate His coming and show the fruit of repentance and the people wouldn't listen to Him and said that He had to be a glutton and drunkard because of all the parties that He attended to preach to these "sinners." (Imagine someone going out to bars to preach to the drunks and was accused of being one of them just because He hung out with them and went to the bars).

Jesus says there are some who are still wise though that have listened to both John and Jesus and that it will be obvious who those are in the end.  We'll know the tree by its fruit.