Keraia
Matthew 11

Matthew 11:19

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

Translations

Modern
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
Traditional
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Literal
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a man, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’ But wisdom was justified from her works.”
Latin
Venit Filius hominis manducans, et bibens, et dicunt: Ecce homo vorax, et potator vini, publicanorum et peccatorum amicus. Et justificata est sapientia a filiis suis.

Original

Greek
English
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

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

Glossary

Gospel of Matthew Jesus Christ Matthew (Person) Sin Tax Collector

Topics

Abstemiousness: John the Baptist Asceticism: Extreme Application of Rebuked by Jesus Bigotry of Being a Gluttonous Man and a Winebibber (A Wino) Drinking Drunkenness: Falsely Accused of Jesus Falsehood in Falsely Accusing Jesus of Being Gluttonous and a Winebibber (A Wino) Gluttony: Christ Was Falsely Accused of Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Friend of Sinners Jesus, the Christ: Receives the Message from John the Baptist (In Galilee) Jesus, the Christ: Rejected John: Jesus Discourses Upon Persecution of Jesus Publicans: Disreputable Publicans: The Jews: Classed with the Most Infamous Characters Publicans: The Jews: Despised Our Lord for Associating With Slander of Jesus, by the Jews Falsely Charging That he Was a Winebibber (Wino) Slander: Jews Tax Collectors Tax: Unpopular Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning Winebibber (A Wino): Jesus Falsely Accused of Being A Wisdom: Spiritual: Unclassified Scriptures Relating to