March 23

Text: Matthew 11:16-19

"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." (NASB)

Some people just cannot be satisfied!  No matter what they receive, it is not what they expected! No matter what they are given, it is not what they wanted!

The marketplace was a city’s heart where many went daily to shop for food and goods.  When a mother went to shop for food, she commonly took her children.  Those children entertained themselves by playing games.  One of the games was “wedding” and one was “funeral.”  If they played wedding, they expected other children to dance.  If they played funeral, other children were expected to play the role of professional mourners.  The children in charge were dissatisfied—the other children would not do as they were expected to do.

Jesus said too many were like the self-appointed children in charge of games played in the marketplace—they were never satisfied!  No matter what God did, it was wrong.  God sent John, and he was too austere to be taken seriously—he must have a demon!  God sent the Son of Man, and he was too indulgent to be taken seriously—he ate and drank too much and associated with the wrong people.

The future would prove God knew what He was doing!

Suggestion for reflection: Are we never satisfied, or do we trust God to know what He is doing?  (Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.)