Matthew 11:19

“For it is said, “The Son of man came eating and drinking;” and when He had lain down, He fell asleep, and took repose.” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 19.

“This whole section relating to John the Baptist, touching the message which he sent to Jesus, and the tenor of the reply which those whom he despatched received, and the terms in which the Lord spoke of John after the departure of these persons, is introduced also by Luke.” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 1–19.

““For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they said, He hath a devil; the Son of Man came both eating and drinking; and they said, “Lo, a glutton and wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 18–19

“Which thing the Jews not understanding reproached Him with, as He also saith Himself, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” ( Matt. xi. 19.)” — the author cites it

“But wisdom is justified of her children.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 18, 19. [The citation is from Matthew, not Luke, but the last clause in the R.V. reads: “And wisdom is justified by her works.” Comp. however, the…

““Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 19.

“Less in age, and according to the opinion of the multitude, since they even called Him “a gluttonous man and a winebibber;”and, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”and on every occasion they used to make light of Him.” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 19.

“…such as are produced out of the mouth;” while Himself withal was wont to eat and drink till He made Himself noted thus; “Behold, a gormandizer and a drinker:” (finally), that so, too, does the apostle teach that “food commendeth us not to God; since we neither abound if we eat, nor lack if we eat not.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 19; Luke vii. 34.

“Moreover, when (the writer) adjoins “sinners” to “publicans,” it does not follow that he shows them to have been Jews, albeit some may possibly have been so; but by placing on a par the one genus of heathens—some sinners…” — editor's note: See Luke xv. 1, 2; Matt. ix. 10, 11; xi. 19; Mark ii. 15, 16; Luke v. 29, 30.

“…the power and spirit of Elias”); while that “man gluttonous and toping,” the “frequenter of luncheons and suppers, in the company of publicans and sinners,” sups once for all at a single marriage, though, of course, many were marrying (around Him); for He willed to attend (marriages) only so often as (He willed)…” — editor's note: See Matt. xi. 19; Luke vii. 34.

“But that it was wine which was drunk by the Lord, He tells us again, when He spake concerning Himself, reproaching the Jews for their hardness of heart: “For the Son of man,” He says, “came, and they say, Behold a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 19.

“Quin etiam Dominus de seipso dicens: “Venit,” inquit, “Joannes, nec comedens, nec bibens, et dicunt: dæmonium habet; venit Filius hominis comedarts et bibens, et dicunt: Ecce homo vorax et vini potor, amicus publicanorum, et peccator.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 18, 19.

The whole of this speech is a reproach of unbelief, and arises out of the foregoing complaint; that the stiff-necked people had not learned by two different modes of teaching.

Whence He puts this question, shewing that nothing had been omitted that ought to be done for their salvation, saying, “To whom shall I liken this generation?

By “this generation” He means the Jews together with Himself and John. As though He had said; John is thus great; but ye would believe neither him nor Me, and therefore to whom shall I liken you?

And straightway He answers Himself, saying, “It is like unto children sitting in the market-place, crying unto their fellows, and saying, We have played music to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned, and ye…

By the “children” are meant the Prophets, who preached as children in singleness of meaning, and in the midst of the synagogue, that is “in the market-place”, reprove them, that when they played to those to whom they…

They say therefore, “We have played music to you, and ye have not danced;” i. e. We have called on you to work good works to our songs, and ye would not. We have lamented and called you to repentance, and this ye…

What is that He says, “To their fellows?” Were the unbelieving Jews then fellows of the Prophets? He speaks thus only because they were sprung of one stock.

The children are they of whom Isaiah speaks, “Behold I, and the children whom the Lord has given me.” [Isa 8:18] These children then sit in the market-place, where are many things for sale, and say,

“We have played music to you, and ye have not danced;” that is, I have shewed you an unrestricted life, and ye are not convinced; “We have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented;” that is, John lived a hard life,…

I would that the Manichaens would tell me what Christ ate and drank, who here speaks of Himself as eating and drinking in comparison of John, who did neither. Not indeed that John drank nothing at all, but that he…

He says therefore, “Jesus came,” as much as to say, I and John came opposite ways, to do the same thing; as two hunters chasing the same animal from opposite sides, so that it might fall into, the hands of one of…

If fasting then pleases you, why were you not satisfied with John! If fulness, why not with the Son of man? Yet one of these ye said had a daemon, the other ye called a gluttonous man, and drunkard.

What excuse then shall be given for them? Therefore He adds, “And wisdom is justified of her children;” that is, though ye were not convinced, yet have ye nothing whereof to accuse me, as also of the Father the…

“Wisdom is justified of her children,” i. e. The dispensation or doctrine of God, or Christ Himself who is the power and wisdom of God, is proved by the Apostles, who are His children, to have done righteously.

He is wisdom itself not by His acts, but by His nature. Many indeed evade that saying of the Apostle’s, “Christ is the wisdom and power of God,” [1 Cor 1:24] by saying, that truly in creating Him of a Virgin the…

Or, “Wisdom is justified of her children,” because the holy Apostles understood that the kingdom of God was not in meat and drink, but in patient enduring; such persons neither does abundance lift up, nor want cast…

Some copies read, “Wisdom is justified of her works,” for wisdom does not seek the witness of words, but of works.

You should not be surprised at His using trite instances, such as that respecting the children; for He spoke to the weakness of His hearers; as Ezekiel spoke many things adapted to the Jews, but unworthy of the…

Mystically; Neither did the preaching of John bend the Jews, to whom the law seemed burdensome in prescribing meats and drinks, difficult and grievous, having in it sin which He calls having a demon — for from the…

Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34 share the same wording (14 words).

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 11:16–19 (4) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 11:16–19 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.

Cited together in Against Heresies IV.31.