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Commentaries
English
Luke
  
31And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.’33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’35But wisdom is justified by all her children."


Christ likened the hardhearted rulers and elders of the people to arrogant stubborn children who invite others to play, and then quarrel with those who do not dance in tune with their flute, attributing to themselves the right opinion and the highest word for weeping or rejoicing. When the ascetic John demanded worthy repentance weeping, the lawyers rejected his call, for their Pharisaic flute was tuned to rejoicing in keeping the law. They called him who called to repentance a devil. And when Jesus, the complete Man, came calling men to the joy of grace, living an ordinary life in the spirit of his kindness, loving all people, and merciful to the sinners and evildoers, the lawyers hated him, for his love surpassed their teachings, and his righteousness came to them with grace from God, and not from their hypocrite works, and called him a reveler, and participant of thieves. If John and Jesus had kissed the hands of the rulers of the people and did what they demanded of them, they would have received great honor; but they called to repentance of all men, and therefore the rulers of the people felt indignant about the Lord’s call and closed their minds and hearts against it. They were like the stubborn children who do not obey their parents’ call.
Yet all those who were prudent gained from John and Jesus the greatest wisdom, which intimates seeking the Lord, hating sins, and freely justification by Christ. He who likewise responds to God’s wisdom becomes filled with the powers and will of our heavenly Father, the All-Wise. Did you become worthy of the kingdom of the Lord, or do you look like the stubborn children who ask others to dance in tune with their principles?

Prayer
O Lord, I am not worthy to be your child. But you guided me with your gospel into repentance, sanctified me with the blood of your Son, and gave birth to me again of your Spirit. I thank you with all my heart, and ask you to release my thought from the bondage of the law, in order that I should not reject or judge anybody, but love all in your Holy Spirit.
Question
Why did Jesus call John the greatest among all prophets and those that are born of women? Why is he who is least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John?