Matthew 11:16 NKJV,NLT

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:16-19

Yet both John and he himself are rejected , though the results of their efforts were such as to fully justify the apparent difference of their methods. Parallel passage. Luke 7:31-35 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:16-19

Children in the market-place. Our Lord must have watched the children at play in the market-place, and have been grieved when a discontented spirit had been manifested by some of them. tie had seen how no effort on the part of their companions could move these obstinate children from their sullen mood. And now he finds the behaviour of the children to be typical of that of their parents. Elder people may learn from children. The unconventional manners of children may reveal something of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:16-24

The judgment of God. The " generation " here rebuked is the race or succession of obstinately impenitent Jews headed and represented by the scribes and Pharisees. We are reminded— I. THAT THE JUDGMENT OF GOD COMMENCES IN THIS WORLD . 1 . The wicked are here convicted by the truth. 2 . The condemnation of the wicked is the commendation of the good. 3 . The providence of God has its rewards. II. THAT THE JUDGMENT OF GOD WILL BE ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 11:16-19

But whereunto shall I liken ... - Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of people. He says they were like children - nothing pleased them. He refers here to the “plays” or “sports” of children. Instrumental music, or piping and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals as a sign of joy. See the notes at Isaiah 5:11-12. Compare Job 21:11; 2 Samuel 6:14; Judges 11:34; Luke 15:25. Children imitate their parents and others, and act over in play what they see... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 11:16-19

Matthew 11:16-19. Whereunto shall I liken this generation That is, the men of this age? They are like those froward children, of whom their fellows complain that they will be pleased no way. Saying, We have piped unto you, &c. “It was usual in Judea, at feasts, to have music of an airy kind, accompanied with dancing, Luke 15:25; and at funerals, melancholy airs, to which were joined the lamentations of persons hired for that purpose. The children, therefore, in that country, imitating... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:1-19

49. Messengers from John the Baptist (Matthew 11:1-19; Luke 7:18-35)Shut up in prison, John the Baptist received only irregular and possibly inaccurate reports of Jesus’ ministry. These reports must have caused him to wonder whether Jesus really was the Messiah he foretold. Jesus sent back the message that he was carrying out a ministry of relief to the oppressed, which was the sort of ministry foretold of the Messiah in the Old Testament (Matthew 11:1-5; cf. Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1). Many... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 11:16

this generation? A significant expression, occurring sixteen times (Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 12:41 , Matthew 12:42 ; Matthew 23:36 ; Matthew 24:34 .Mark 8:12 , Mark 8:12 ; Mark 13:30 . Luke 7:31 ; Luke 11:30 , Luke 11:31 , Luke 11:32 , Luke 11:50 , Luke 11:51 ; Luke 17:25 ; Luke 21:32 ). Characterized by other epithets, "evil" and "adulterous" (Matthew 12:39 , Matthew 12:45 ; Matthew 16:4 .Mark 8:38 . Luke 11:29 ); "faithless and perverse" (Matthew 17:17 . Mark 9:19 . Luke 9:41 ); "untoward"... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 11:16

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the market-places, who call unto their fellows.Christ loved little children and made them models of kingdom virtues (Matthew 18:1-6) and flatly declared that unto such "belongs the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:14). But here, Jesus used unruly and misbehaving children as a simile for the obdurate and unreasonable generation which rejected him and his kingdom. Such groups of spoiled and undisciplined children may... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 11:16-17

Matthew 11:16-17. But whereunto shall I liken, &c.— For the better understanding of our Saviour in this place, see Luke 7:29-35. To shew the Pharisees more plainly the perverseness of their disposition, our Saviour told them they were like children at play, who never do what their companions desire them; peevish and froward, and displeased with every thing. The phrase it is like,in St. Matthew's style, often signifies only, in general, that the thing spoken of may be illustrated by the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 11:2-19

1. Questions from the King’s forerunner 11:2-19This sections illustrates how deeply seated Israel’s disenchantment with Jesus was. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:16-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:16-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:16-24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 11:16-19

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 11:16-19

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:1-19

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 11:16

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 11:16

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 11:16-17

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 11:2-19

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