Monday after the Tenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 14, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 11:16-24 (NKJV)
11:16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Devotion
“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament.’”
John the Baptist’s audience had every opportunity to hear and heed God’s call to repentance, but they rejected God’s pleas. Jesus compares them to little children who refuse to play, regardless of the game. No approach would suit their fancy, and so they pouted.
The same can be said of people from any generation who stubbornly refuse the message given by God’s prophets and pastors. But instead of mocking the message, they find ways to mock the messenger, no matter who it may be—even John and Jesus. In the end, “wisdom is justified.” Ultimately, the wisdom of God’s Word will be proved right.
Certainly no one could point to any of Jesus’ actions as sinful, as He is Wisdom personified. He lived a perfect life, not only to vindicate His message, but to serve as our perfect replacement. May we forever stand on the rock who is Christ, and proclaim His timeless message of repentance and forgiveness.
Prayer: O God, Who declarest Thine Almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
