Matthew 11:16-19 Like Children Playing
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 17, 2019, Matthew 11:16-19
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “‘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, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
(Understanding the Text) Jesus was saying that the generation that He was speaking to thought it was wise, but the reality was that they were like little kids fighting over a game and blaming other people. He was saying that they were just being contrary and self-centered. He tells them that they claimed to want one kind of prophet, but when they have him, they criticize and explain away not accepting him. Then when they get a different kind, they do the same thing. They don’t accept any of the prophets sent to them, and make childish excuses that can’t be taken seriously.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) Jesus is still defending John as a prophet. John did not eat like normal people, nor did he drink strong drinks. He was a Nazarite. He was the dirge. They were supposed to mourn with him. However, to John, they were saying that they wanted to dance. They were playing the flute, and John was raining on their parade with his message of repentance. On the other hand, Jesus came with a joyful message that the kingdom of heaven was here. He healed all their diseases so that they were healthy and able to pay attention to the message with clear thinking. He socialized with all levels of society and ate and drank whatever they were eating and drinking. Jesus was the dance, and they said that He should be more like John. The critics said that Jesus needed to be more restrained and mournful. Essentially, Jesus pointed to the differences between himself and John the Baptist and demonstrated that those differences were okay. Each one had its proper place. John was important, but he was only pointing the way to Jesus. Maybe, we can say this also for messages. The sad, serious, painful messages are important but temporary. They should always point the way to the joy of being with Jesus. In the end, there should be more joy than mourning.
Whether or not someone is speaking wisely or childishly will be apparent by the results. The critics should be judged by the outcomes of their words while John should be judged by the results of his ministry, and Jesus should be judged by the outcomes of his words and actions. If anyone looked at Jesus, they would see what he had told John’s disciples. The sick were cured. The afflicted were raised up. God was exalted. I guess earlier, Jesus was telling the disciples this same idea that John should judge the answer to his question based on the actions that Jesus was performing.
Wisdom is being personified here. The other place that wisdom is personified is in Proverbs where they say that wisdom is a representation of Jesus there. I don’t know if there is any relationship.
(Application) My application for myself is that I need to watch out that I don’t act like the critics and become contrary, not satisfied with anything. I need to not look at style, but at results. In addition, I need to make a conscious effort to stop being a baby Christian. I need to grow up and trust God instead of complaining about my circumstances. I don’t complain out loud to others, but all to often I am silently dissatisfied in myself and my circumstances.
(Prayer) Lord, teach me to be satisfied in the place where I am. Show me how to be content and joyous in all circumstances. Teach me to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. Give me the wisdom to speak words of comfort and words of joy at the appropriate times. I don’t want to be judgmental or dissatisfied with You or with my fellow Christians. Give me the humility and deference to not insert my opinions into a situation but rather help me to open my ears to hear Your opinion. Give me Your joy so that I can spread it to Your friends as I eat and drink and interact with them.