Devine Scripture

Matthew 11:18

What does Matthew 11:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 11:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 11:18 means

Jesus applied the previous analogy to John the Baptist's ministry, explaining that John came with an ascetic lifestyle, "neither eating nor drinking" (referring to his strict Nazaritical vows and wilderness diet). Yet, the people rejected him, unjustly accusing him of having a demon. This demonstrates their cynical dismissal of John's rigorous call to repentance, finding fault even in his self-denying devotion. Their judgment was not based on truth but on their predetermined negative bias.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For John came, taking no food or drink, and they say, He has an evil spirit.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For John has come neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon.

Context

This verse applies the children's analogy to John the Baptist's ministry. It provides the first concrete example of the generation's unresponsiveness, showing how they rejected John's austere lifestyle. This sets up a direct contrast with Jesus' own ministry in the following verse, further illustrating the generation's inconsistent and fault-finding nature.

v.17and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.

v.18This passage

v.19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 26:24

    And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:27

    but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

  • Matthew 10:25

    It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!

  • Jeremiah 29:26

    Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles.

  • Luke 1:15

    For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

  • Hosea 9:7

    The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the abundance of thine iniquity, and because the enmity is great.

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