Matthew 11:18 Commentary and Bible Study

Christ applies this illustration to the response of the people to John’s and his ministry. The musician group of children represent, in turn, first John the Baptist and his preaching and then Christ and his preaching. These are the two different games in the illustration, and the guest group represent the nation of Israel in response to these two ministries. In both cases the nation failed to respond as they should. John came calling the people to repentance and preaching a baptism of repentance. Some few followed him sincerely, but Christ is here talking about the nation as a whole. Though John was popular with the people and many were baptized as he directed, their response to his message was superficial, and on the whole they were critical of him and rejected him. They noted his strict lifestyle, neither eating nor drinking, that is, abstaining from refined foods and from alcohol, and sticking to a very plain diet. John did this in conformity with his message in order to add weight to it. He called the people to repentance, and therefore avoided worldly excesses. The people saw this as strange and complained that he went to extremes, and they derisively dismissed him as demon possessed. ‘Hath a devil’ – it was one way of saying in those days, he is deranged, mad.