Matthew 11:16-17 - Exposition

But . In contrast to the obedience asked for in Matthew 11:15 , this generation closes its ears. Whereunto shall I liken . A common rabbinic phrase, which is often found in the fuller form recorded in Luke, "Whereunto shall I liken … and to what are they like?" (see Matthew 7:24 , note). 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. There are two ways of understanding the illustration which our Lord here uses.

(a) in an illustrative saying one has chiefly to regard its general sense;

(b) in verses 18, 19 the action of John and of our Lord in "coming" corresponds to the activity of the children;

(c) this interpretation seems much more in accordance with the context.

The verses are therefore to be understood as meaning- John mourned in urging repentance, our Lord rejoiced in gospel liberty and preaching, but both alike were only ridiculed by the Jews. Markets ; marketplaces (Revised Version); for there is no thought of the children helping their elders in traffic. And calling ( which call , Revised Version) unto their fellows. Addressing them, but not necessarily noisily ( Luke 6:13 ; Luke 13:12 ).