John's Question from Prison

The words

1. Born of Women

   Matthew and Luke use “born of women” in Jesus’s praise of John, then give his comparison between John’s greatness and the least in the kingdom.

   Matthew 11:11 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:28 (opens a new tab)

2. Delicately

   In luxury.

   Luke uses “live delicately” for people in kings’ courts, alongside splendid clothing, as Jesus asks what the crowds went into the wilderness to see.

   Luke 7:24–25 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 7:18-35 (opens a new tab)

3. Gluttonous

   Given to overeating.

   Matthew and Luke report Jesus quoting accusations against the Son of man as he contrasts reactions to his eating and drinking with reactions to John’s abstaining.

   Matthew 11:18–19 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:33–34 (opens a new tab) · Strong’s: Gluttonous (opens a new tab)

4. Kings' Houses

   In Matthew, Jesus places people in soft clothing in “kings’ houses”; Luke gives “kings’ courts” and adds people living luxuriously.

   Matthew 11:8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:25 (opens a new tab)

5. Markets

   Matthew and Luke place children in the markets or marketplace, calling to one another about piping without dancing and mourning without a response.

   Matthew 11:16–17 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:31–32 (opens a new tab)

6. Messenger

   Matthew and Luke present Jesus calling John more than a prophet, then quoting words about a messenger sent ahead to prepare the way.

   Did you know?

   Malachi 3:1 also joins a messenger with preparing the way; Matthew 11:10 uses “thy face” and “thee” where Malachi speaks of preparing the way “before me.”

   Matthew 11:9–10 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:26–27 (opens a new tab) · Malachi 3:1 (opens a new tab)

7. Mourned

   Matthew gives the children’s complaint as “ye have not lamented”; Luke gives “ye have not wept,” after the words about mourning in Jesus’s comparison.

   Matthew 11:16–17 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:31–32 (opens a new tab)

8. Offended

   Caused to stumble or turn away.

   Matthew and Luke end Jesus’s reply to John’s messengers with a blessing for whoever is not “offended in me,” following his words about what they should report.

   Matthew 11:4–6 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:22–23 (opens a new tab) · Strong’s: Offended (opens a new tab)

9. Piped

   Played a flute.

   Matthew and Luke both include “We have piped unto you” in the children’s complaint; the missing response is dancing, before the complaint turns to mourning.

   Matthew 11:16–17 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:31–32 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 11:2-19 (opens a new tab)

10. Prison

    Matthew places John in prison when he hears of Christ’s works and sends his disciples with a question; Luke describes two disciples bringing that question to Jesus.

    Matthew 11:2–4 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:19–20 (opens a new tab)

11. Reed

    Matthew and Luke begin Jesus’s comments about John with a question about seeing a reed shaken by the wind in the wilderness, after John’s messengers depart.

    Did you know?

    Matthew later quotes Isaiah’s “bruised reed” image in a passage describing Jesus’s withdrawal and healing; this wilderness question uses the different image of wind shaking a reed.

    Matthew 11:7 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:24 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 12:15–20 (opens a new tab) · Isaiah 42:3 (opens a new tab)

12. Shaken

    Matthew and Luke place “shaken with the wind” in Jesus’s question about a reed, before his questions about fine clothing and a prophet.

    Matthew 11:7–9 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:24–26 (opens a new tab)

13. Soft Raiment

    Soft clothing.

    Matthew and Luke place soft raiment in Jesus’s questions about what people went into the wilderness to see, before he calls John more than a prophet.

    Matthew 11:7–10 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:24–27 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 11:2-19 (opens a new tab)

14. Violent

    Matthew records Jesus’s saying that the kingdom “suffereth violence” and “the violent take it by force”; the NET’s note discusses several possible readings.

    Matthew 11:11–12 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 11:2-19 (opens a new tab)

15. Winebibber

    Luke contrasts John’s not drinking wine with the Son of man eating and drinking; Matthew and Luke both report “winebibber” among the accusations Jesus quotes.

    Matthew 11:18–19 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:33–34 (opens a new tab)