25. Mat_11:18-19, Christ Eating and Drinking

Matthew 11:18-19, Christ Eating and Drinking

Matthew 11:18-19 : “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 wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” The Savior, in the verses immediately preceding, illustrated the captiousness and unreasonableness of those who were determined not to be pleased, but under all circumstances to find fault. “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.” Christ directly applies this illustration by reference to the estimate placed upon John and himself by that generation.

John was a Nazarite, and conformed rigidly to the requirements of that order. When they noticed his austere abstinence, peculiar habits, rough attire, and uncompromising denunciations, they were not pleased, and dismissed him with the remark, “He hath a devil.” When they saw Christ, whose mission was different from that of John, and perceived that he practised no austerities, but lived like other men, and mingled socially with even the despised of men, they were not better pleased, and said, “Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” It is on such authority that the advocates of alcoholic wines claim that Christ was accustomed to use them. At best, it is only inferential, because He ate and drank, and was “a friend of publicans and sinners,” that he therefore necessarily drank intoxicating wine. We notice that the same authority which said he was a “wine-bibber” also said he was “gluttonous.” And on two other occasions (John 1:20; John 8:48) they said he had a devil. If we believe the first charge on the authority of His enemies, we must also believe the second and the third, for the authority is the same. It will be borne in mind that these, His enemies, traduced His character that they might destroy His influence. They judged that the charge of wine-bibbing, whether it implied drunkenness or sensuality, was the most damaging to His influence as a religious teacher and reformer. It should also be remembered that His enemies were unscrupulous, malignant, and not noted for their truthfulness.

Dr. John J. Owen, in his Commentary, says: “As wine was a common beverage in that land of vineyards, in its unfermented state, our Lord most likely drank it.” The Savior did not turn aside from his work to clear himself from the charges which malignity and falsehood brought against him. He simply said, “Wisdom is justified of her children;” that is, My work and My character will ultimately shield Me from the power of all false accusations. Those who know Me will not be affected by them, and those who hate Me will not cease from their calumny.