The Fickle Nature of This Generation! Matthew 11:12-19

Jesus continues to reiterate the role of John the Baptist in his coming to earth.

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 

The time frame is from when John came from the desert preaching the kingdom was at hand in Jesus until the people had assembled "en masse" to follow Jesus. 

"The “violent” are men of eager, impetuous zeal, who grasp the kingdom of heaven—i.e., its peace, and pardon, and blessedness—with as much eagerness as men would snatch and carry off as their own the spoil of a conquered city. Their new life is, in the prophet’s language, “given them as a prey” (Jeremiah 21:9; Jeremiah 45:5). There is no thought of hostile purpose in the words." (Ellicott)

13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 

We usually think that it was just the Old Testament prophets who prophesied, but the Pentateuch of Moses (the Law) also prophesied about the coming Messiah. The Law pointed to the complete inability for us to be righteous in God's sight, which pointed to the need for a Savior. The Law also gave the ceremonial law of sacrifice, which could only be fulfilled in the Messiah.  The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.   

John was right there fulfilling what the OT prophets would have longed to see, the living Jesus, the long predicted Messiah who had now come.  

"Under the Old Covenant, every other prophet announced, “The Messiah is coming.” John alone had the privilege of saying, “The Messiah is here.” (Guzik)

14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 

Malachi had predicted the day of the Lord would come and Elijah would be the prophet. 

"See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes."

John was clearly not Elijah but in the Spirit of Elijah.  Ellicot says regarding this seeming anomaly, 

"The words of Malachi (Malachi 4:5) had led men to expect the reappearance of the great Tishbite in person as the immediate precursor of the Christ. It was the teaching of the scribes then (Matthew 17:10; John 1:21); it has lingered as a tradition of Judaism down to our own time. A vacant chair is placed for Elijah at all great solemnities. Even Christian interpreters have cherished the belief that Elijah will appear in person before the second Advent of the Lord. The true meaning of the words of Malachi had, however, been suggested in the words of the angel in Luke 1:17, “He shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias,” and is here distinctly confirmed."

15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

“A proverbial form of speech often used by Jesus after important utterances, here for the first time in Matthew.” (Bruce)

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

Jesus is commenting on the fickle nation of his generation.  The idea is that no matter what John or Jesus preached the people would find something wrong in it.  If they played a happy song, they wouldn't dance.  If they played a sad song as at a funeral they wouldn't mourn.  

I find it ironic that this is not altogether too different from the generation we live in.  People like to listen to others that make them feel good or tell the funniest jokes.  

“They refused to hear God’s voice in either form, the somber or the joyful, in judgment or in mercy, if it did not accord with their conventions. There was no pleasing them.” (France)

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

Though John abstained from alcohol and meat they criticized him as if he were evil. 

"The phrase was a common one, asserting at once the fact of insanity, and ascribing it to demoniacal possession as its cause. (Comp. John 7:20; John 8:48.) This was the explanation which the scribes gave of John’s austerities. The locusts and wild honey were to them the diet of a madman." (Ellicott)

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

On the other hand Jesus hung out with sinners and even enjoyed food and wine with them.  The scoffed at him for hanging out with such "low-lifes".  

"Though these words were meant to condemn, they have become wonderful. Jesus really is a friend of… sinners." (Guzik)

Jesus says the bottom line is what are the fruits of John and Jesus' ministry.  Jesus knew the Pharisees had hearts of coal, and whether they were austere like John, or affable and human like him. they would not reflect the heart of God's law, which was love and mercy. 

Where do you have a critical and divisive spirit?  Do you tend to think your denomination or church are the real followers of Christ? When you go to worship are you looking at what you can get out of it, or are you going to hear from God and fellowship with other believers?  Who are you more critical of?  People like Jesus, a friend of sinners, who may push the boundaries a little? Or John who is more somber and pious?