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The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew.

Matthew 11:16-20

16 - 17. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.It is the malcontent nature of the Jews that He is speaking of here. For as they were cantankerous, neither John's asceticism nor Christ's simplicity pleased them. They were like foolish little children who are never satisfied- whether one cries for them or plays the pipe for them, they are not pleased.

18 - 19. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners.He compares John's way of life to mourning, for John showed great severity both in words and deeds, and His own life on earth He compares to piping, that is, to the sounds of the flute. For the Lord was most gracious and pleasing, condescending to all that He might win all, bringing the good tidings of the kingdom, and He was not severe in appearance as was John.But wisdom is justified of her children. This is what He is saying: so, then, since neither John’s life nor My own pleases you, but you scorn all the means of salvation, I Who am Wisdom am justified (that is, shown to be righteous, and vindicated). Therefore you will have no excuse but will be utterly condemned. For I, on My part, have done everything, yet you, by your refusal to believe, prove that I Who omitted nothing am justified.

20. Then Jesus began to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not:
After showing that He had done everything that He ought to have done, and that they remained unrepentant, then He upbraids them.






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