Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 7:19-35

Matthew Henry Commentary

Luke 7:19-35

1662–1714
Presbyterian
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry Commentary

Luke 7:19-35

1662–1714
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? And when the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me. And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings` courts. But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee. I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him. Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep. For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified of all her children." — Luke 7:19-35 (ASV)

To His miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds this one in the kingdom of grace: To the poor the gospel is preached. This clearly pointed out the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, for the messenger He sent before Him to prepare His way did so by preaching repentance and a reformation of heart and life.

Here we see the just blame that falls on those who were not moved by the ministry of John the Baptist or of Jesus Christ Himself. They ridiculed the methods God took to do them good. This is the ruin of multitudes: they are not serious about the concerns of their souls.

Let us, therefore, strive to prove ourselves children of Wisdom by heeding the instructions of God's Word, and by revering those mysteries and glad tidings which unbelievers and Pharisees deride and blaspheme.