“Wisdom Is Justified By All Her Children” (Luke 7:29-35)

(vs33-35) "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ "But wisdom is justified by all her children."

Wisdom's children know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. We know that John wasn't strict beyond measure, and we know that Christ is merciful in a holy and upright way. We know Christ, the wisdom of God, the gospel.

First, Christ and Him crucified is WISDOM. Don't be like the self-righteous who said, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Luke 7:34). Christ is how God saves sinners by taking our sins upon Himself, and then paying the penalty fully. He justifies or declares us righteous by faith, and this faith, is in Christ. Acts 3:16 says, “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all (Acts 3:16).” We TRUST Him to save us, relying upon Him alone, confessing Him Lord at God's command, and receiving salvation freely because of it. We believe, and God says that believing is enough, and He produces fruit, gives assurance, and accomplishes salvation fully, making us LOVE, honor, and follow Christ to the end.

Secondly, we know that John wasn't hard unduly. The unwise said, “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon” (vs33). He came POINTING the way to Christ and reproving us of sin, so that we confess how evil we are, so we can be saved.

It is sad when reproof is met with anger and pride, when great men in scripture have offended and hurt themselves by not receiving God's message. King Asa, that great man of God, heard from God's messenger that he'd sinned. He said, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand... In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” (2 Chron 16:7-9). Yet, rather than receive the mercy that comes with the reproof, rather than confess and be cleansed, He died with hurt feet, unable to walk with God in the way he had previously, all because he would not receive rebuke. Scripture says, “Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time” (2 Chron 16:10). But, God humbles us, makes us know our need, and then He freely graces the needy.

Therefore, don't be unwise. When reproved of sin, know the Savior is able to save, and willing. He WILL help you assuredly and freely. We exalt the standard, so that people need the Savior, and John set the standard high, as it must be. He said, “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt 3:10). For merit, we need perfection. For everyday life, we need powerful obedience. John taught us to believe on Him who'd come for everything.

Thirdly, wisdom is justified by her children, but some lack wisdom and won't believe. They are full, holy, self-righteous, and they have no need of Christ. Scripture says, “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him” (Luke 7:30). They see God's holy love as offensive, His law as unjust, and His ways as too severe. This reveals foolishness in us, because the gospel is the wisdom and power of God, and only fools refuse to believe the only hope and truth there is. We read, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). Many would rather DIE in sin than admit to the Savior, blocking Him out of their minds. They willingly confess lies in the face of truth, so they can have their short-lived sin.

It isn't worth it, but only the wise know this. Fools lack wisdom and die for lack of knowledge (Prov 10:21).

Finally, be WISE!!! You have unbelieving friends and wisdom is nothing to them. You have many struggles to live godly, ostracized from the world, denying your fleshly lusts daily, and yet you alone are wise who believe. Like the wise pig, we build our house with brick. Like the ants, we wisely prepare for Judgment Day, the Harvest. We read, “Go to the ant, you sluggard”, you who will not trust Christ, preparing to meet God, “Consider her ways and be wise, which having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer,and gathers her food in the harvest” (Prov 6:6-8). Like all who are taught of God, we see truth, love, grace, and wisdom as great and principle things to get from God. He says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Prov 4:7). We see salvation as everything!