Matthew 11:18

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

For {G1063} John {G2491} came {G2064} neither {G3383} eating {G2068} nor {G3383} drinking {G4095}, and {G2532} they say {G3004}, He hath {G2192} a devil {G1140}.

For Yochanan came, fasting, not drinking -- so they say, `He has a demon.'

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

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.

Commentary on Matthew 11:18 (KJV)

Matthew 11:18 is part of Jesus' broader discourse concerning John the Baptist and the generation's response to God's messengers. In this verse, Jesus highlights the paradoxical criticism leveled against John.

Context

This verse follows Jesus' powerful testimony about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:7-15, where He affirms John's unique prophetic role as the forerunner of the Messiah. Immediately after, Jesus laments the spiritual blindness and stubbornness of the generation that refuses to accept either John or Himself. John the Baptist came with a severe, ascetic lifestyle, living in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4), and abstaining from wine. This was reminiscent of Old Testament prophets and was intended to be a stark call to repentance. Yet, as Jesus points out, this very detachment from conventional societal norms became a basis for their baseless accusation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unjustified Criticism and Rejection: The verse powerfully illustrates how people, particularly the religious establishment of the day, found reasons to reject God's messengers, regardless of their approach. John's austere lifestyle, intended to signify a radical call to repentance, was twisted into an accusation of demonic influence.
  • Spiritual Blindness: The inability to discern the divine origin of John's ministry, despite its clear signs and prophetic fulfillment, points to a deep spiritual blindness. Those who accused him were unwilling to accept the truth that challenged their preconceived notions or comfortable lives.
  • Hypocrisy and Inconsistency: This verse sets up the contrast with the next verse (Matthew 11:19), where Jesus, who came "eating and drinking," was accused of being a glutton and a winebibber. The critics were inconsistent; they would not be pleased by either approach, revealing their true issue was not the messengers' methods but their unwillingness to accept God's message itself.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "He hath a devil" (Greek: daimonion echei) is a grave accusation, implying that John was demon-possessed or insane. This was a common slander used by opponents against those they wished to discredit, including Jesus Himself (John 7:20, John 8:48, John 10:20). It was a way to dismiss the message by attacking the messenger's character and sanity, avoiding the need to genuinely engage with the truth he proclaimed.

Practical Application

Matthew 11:18 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Beware of Unfair Judgment: We are cautioned against judging others based on superficial appearances or their non-conformity to our expectations. True spiritual discernment looks beyond outward behaviors to the heart and the source of a message.
  • Truth Often Faces Rejection: God's messengers, throughout history, have often faced criticism and rejection from those unwilling to hear uncomfortable truths. This verse reminds us that opposition is not necessarily a sign of error but can be a sign of challenging deeply entrenched biases.
  • Focus on God's Wisdom: The ultimate vindication comes from "wisdom... justified of her children" (Matthew 11:19). This means that the true nature of God's wisdom is revealed through the lives and fruit of those who embrace it, regardless of how they are perceived by the world. We are called to align ourselves with divine wisdom, not popular opinion.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 1:15

    For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

  • Matthew 3:4

    And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

  • John 8:48

    Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

  • John 10:20

    And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

  • Hosea 9:7

    ¶ The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual man [is] mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

  • John 7:20

    The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

  • Matthew 10:25

    It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call] them of his household?

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