Our text is long, so our reading will focus on Jesus’ praise of John in Matthew 11:11
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
From today’s reading, we learn about:
1. Perception vs. Reality
Jesus teaches the importance of looking beyond superficial appearances to see the true essence of a person.
The old adage says you can’t judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, we often do. People judged John the Baptist by how he looked. Jesus challenges them, “Did you come to see a man dressed in fine clothes?” Jesus and John both disdained these garments. Jesus said, “Those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.” Look beyond the appearances. The true essence of a person lies not in robes or titles but in who they are.
Peel away the layers and look at the heart. See the real person.
2. Blowing in the wind.
In verse 24, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?” Did you ever notice that a reed always blows in the direction of the wind? Some folks are like that. What they say at any moment depends on which way the wind is blowing. Not so with John. How about you?
3. Grumblers always Grumble.
In verses 16–19, Jesus critiques the generation for their dissatisfaction with both his and John’s approaches, comparing them to children in the marketplace. This teaches us the futility of the criticism of some people. With some, there is no right thing you can do. If you play a happy song, you are silly. If you sing a sad song, you are still wrong. Jesus knew this and just ignored the criticism. Help those whom you can help and leave the others to their grumbling.
4. Wisdom is known by its deeds.
There is an old adage, “Pretty is as pretty does.” Some people are pretty until you get to know them. The same is true of wise people. Here, Jesus assures us that a wise person can be known by what they do. Romans 1:22 speaks of people who “although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” Wisdom is proved right by her deeds. It does not matter how smart or wise you think you are, the truth is seen in your deeds.
6 More Points to Ponder
1. True Greatness is Spiritual, Not Social
John the Baptist is lauded as the greatest born of women, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him. This teaches that divine estimation of greatness contrasts sharply with societal measures, valuing spiritual stature over social status.
2. Expectations Can Blind Us to Truth
People criticized John for austerity and Jesus for being sociable, missing the essence of their messages. This highlights how societal expectations can prevent us from recognizing and accepting the truth, especially when it doesn’t align with our preconceptions.
3. Openness to God’s Ways is Essential
Jesus criticized the generation for not responding to John or Himself, illustrating a lack of openness to God’s varied approaches. This serves as a reminder that God’s ways may differ from ours, urging an open heart and mind to recognize and embrace His workings.
4. Spiritual Discernment Transcends Popular Opinion
The crowds’ fickleness with John and Jesus shows the unreliability of public opinion in spiritual matters. This teaches us the importance of spiritual discernment over going along with the crowd, emphasizing a personal, deep understanding of faith.
5. God’s Message Often Comes in Unexpected Forms
John’s asceticism and Jesus’ sociability both faced rejection. This illustrates that God’s message and messengers may not always match our expectations, challenging us to accept divine wisdom in its various forms.
6. Rejection of God’s Messengers Reflects a Heart Condition
The rejection of both John and Jesus indicates a deeper issue of heart, not just a disagreement with their lifestyles. This implies that the rejection of divine messengers is often a sign of a closed heart, pointing to the need for introspection and openness to God.