Luke 7:29 – 35 Christ’s Verdict

Luke 7:29 – 35 Christ’s Verdict

All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves. "Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.' For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

In my Bible this passage is called Christ’s Verdict. Jesus compares those who heard and accepted God’s word and been baptized (even tax collectors) and those who were skeptics and refused to believe (Pharisees and lawyers). The Pharisees had a vested interest in the status quo. The lawyers could not let their hearts overcome their minds. Christ then hands down his “verdict” comparing these men to children, whining and above being pleased, not by John’s asceticism and not by Jesus mingling with regular folks. Jesus makes short shrift of these naysayers, promising all believers God’s vindication, not man’s. There is also a message here for his followers then and now – be prepared to be met with anger, dismissal, false accusations, and even lies about your actions and your character. Any follower of Jesus must be counter-cultural, calling into question current practices and cultural norms, something that will be considered threatening to the status quo.