Keraia
Matthew 11

Matthew 11:18

Jesus Testifies about John · Matthew 11:7–19
Read Matthew 11

Translations

Modern
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
Traditional
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Literal
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
Latin
Venit enim Joannes neque manducans, neque bibens, et dicunt: Dæmonium habet.

Original

Greek
English
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Notes

Matthew 11:18–19

Here Jesus describes how both John and he himself offended the people of that generation.

John lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey (Matthew 3:1, 4). People accused him of having a demon.

Jesus, by contrast, ate and drank freely with others. People accused him of being like a rebellious son (see Deuteronomy 21:18–21).

Matthew 11:16–19

John’s message was like funeral songs. He lived with strict self-denial, fasting often and not drinking wine (Matthew 11:18; see 3:4). The message of Jesus is more like wedding songs, with feasting and drinking (see 9:9–17). In both cases, the people of this time respond to God's messenger with indifference and rejection.

Matthew 11:2–19

This section starts with John the Baptist’s doubt. It ends by honoring his faith and his work (Matthew 11:7–19). The people's rejection of John (11:16–19) hints at their future rejection of Jesus.

Events

Parallels

Malachi 3:1–5 Luke 7:24–35

People

John: The Baptist, a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus

Glossary

Gospel of Matthew Jesus Christ John the Baptist

Topics

Asceticism: The Practice of John the Baptist Bigotry of Being a Gluttonous Man and a Winebibber (A Wino) Drinking Epicureans: Reject John the Baptist Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Jesus, the Christ: Receives the Message from John the Baptist (In Galilee) Jesus, the Christ: Rejected John: A Nazarite John: Affected Probably by the Doctrines of the Stoics John: Jesus Discourses Upon Nazarite: John the Baptist Slander: Jews Stoicism: Scripture Analogies to Came |Neither Eating Nor Drinking| Total Abstinence: John the Baptist Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning