Matthäus 11:16

Lutherbibel

Wem soll ich aber dies Geschlecht vergleichen? Es ist den Kindlein gleich, die an dem Markt sitzen und rufen gegen ihre Gesellen

Parallel Translations

Schlachter Bibel (1951)
Jesus und Johannes, der Täufer Und es geschah, als Jesus die Befehle an seine zwölf Jünger vollendet hatte, zog er von dort weg, um in ihren Städten zu lehren und zu predigen. Als aber Johannes im Gefängnis die Werke des Christus vernahm, sandte er zwei seiner Jünger und ließ ihm sagen: Bist du es, der da kommen soll, oder sollen wir auf einen andern warten? Und Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihnen: Geht hin und verkündigt dem Johannes, was ihr seht und hört: Blinde werden sehend, und Lahme gehen, Aussätzige werden rein, und Taube hören, Tote stehen auf, und den Armen wird das Evangelium gepredigt. Und glückselig ist, wer nicht Anstoß nimmt an mir! Als aber diese aufbrachen, fing Jesus an zur Volksmenge über Johannes zu reden: Was seid ihr in die Wüste hinausgegangen zu sehen? Ein Rohr, das vom Wind bewegt wird? Oder was seid ihr hinausgegangen zu sehen? Einen Menschen, mit weichen Kleidern bekleidet? Siehe, die weiche Kleider tragen, sind in den Häusern der Könige! Oder was seid ihr hinausgegangen? Wolltet ihr einen Propheten sehen? Ja, ich sage euch, einen, der mehr ist als ein Prophet! Denn dieser ist's, von dem geschrieben steht: „Siehe, ich sende meinen Boten vor deinem Angesicht her, der deinen Weg vor dir bereiten soll." Wahrlich, ich sage euch, unter denen, die von Frauen geboren sind, ist kein Größerer aufgetreten als Johannes der Täufer. Doch der Kleinste im Himmelreich ist größer als er. Aber von den Tagen Johannes des Täufers an bis jetzt leidet das Himmelreich Gewalt, und die, welche Gewalt anwenden, reißen es an sich. Denn alle Propheten und das Gesetz bis auf Johannes haben geweissagt. Und wenn ihr es annehmen wollt: Er ist der Elia, der kommen soll. Wer Ohren hat zu hören, der höre! Da fing er an, die Städte zu schelten, in denen die meisten seiner Wundertaten geschehen waren, weil sie nicht Buße getan hatten. Wehe dir, Chorazin, wehe dir, Bethsaida! Denn wenn zu Tyrus und Sidon die Wundertaten geschehen wären, die bei euch geschehen sind, so hätten sie längst in Sack und Asche Buße getan. Doch ich sage euch, es wird Tyrus und Sidon erträglicher gehen am Tage des Gerichts als euch! Und du, Kapernaum, die du bis zum Himmel erhoben bist, du wirst bis zum Totenreich hinabgeworfen werden. Denn wenn in Sodom die Taten geschehen wären, die bei dir geschehen sind, es würde noch heutzutage stehen! Doch ich sage euch, es wird dem Land Sodom erträglicher gehen am Tag des Gerichts als dir! Zu jener Zeit begann Jesus und sprach: Ich preise dich, Vater, Herr des Himmels und der Erde, daß du dies den Weisen und Klugen verborgen und es den Unmündigen offenbart hast! Ja, Vater, denn so ist es wohlgefällig gewesen vor dir. Alles ist mir von meinem Vater übergeben worden, und niemand erkennt den Sohn, als nur der Vater; und niemand erkennt den Vater, als nur der Sohn und wem der Sohn es offenbaren will. Kommt her zu mir alle, die ihr mühselig und beladen seid, so will ich euch erquicken! Nehmt auf euch mein Joch und lernt von mir; denn ich bin sanftmütig und von Herzen demütig; so werdet ihr Ruhe finden für eure Seelen; denn mein Joch ist sanft und meine Last ist leicht!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

whereunto: Lamentations 2:13, Mark 4:30, Luke 13:18

this: Matthew 12:34, Matthew 23:36, Matthew 24:34

It is: Luke 7:31-35

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 32:20 - a very Zechariah 8:5 - playing Matthew 20:3 - standing Luke 7:32 - General

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? The men of that age, the stubborn and perverse Jews; who were pleased with nothing, with no man's ministry, neither with John's, nor with Christ's, but found fault with whatever they heard, or saw done:

it is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows: that is, the case of such persons may be fitly represented by children in a public market, calling to their companions, to pipe or mourn with them, and who are so morose and sullen as to do neither: for the men of that generation, are not the good natured children, that called to their fellows, and were willing to join in innocent diversions and exercises; but rather John the Baptist, Christ and his disciples, who may be compared to "children", for their harmlessness and simplicity; and are represented as "sitting in markets", places of concourse, where much people met together; which may intend the synagogues and temple, and other public places, which they made use of to publish their doctrines in, to preach to, and exhort the people; and as "calling to their fellows", to their contemporaries, to those of their own nation, by the external ministry of the word.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 done by others. Among their childish sports, therefore, was probably an imitation of a wedding or festal occasion. We have seen also (the notes at Matthew 9:23) that funerals were attended with mournful music, and lamentation, and howling. It is not improbable that children also, in play: imitated a mournful funeral procession. One part are represented as sullen and dissatisfied. They would not enter into the play: nothing pleased them. The others complained of it. We have, said they, taken all pains to please you. We have piped to you, have played lively tunes, and have engaged in cheerful sports, but you would not join with us; and then we have played different games, and imitated the mourning at funerals, and you are equally sullen; “you have not lamented;” you have not joked with us. Nothing pleases you. So, said Christ, is this generation of people. “John” came one way, “neither eating nor drinking,” abstaining as a Nazarite, and you were not pleased with him. I, the Son of man, have come in a different manner, “eating and drinking;” not practicing any austerity, but living like other people, and you are equally dissatisfied - nay, you are less pleased. You calumniate him, and abuse me for not doing the very thing which displeased you in John. Nothing pleases you. You are fickle, changeable, inconstant, and abusive.

Markets - Places to sell provisions; places of concourse, where also children flocked together for play.

We have piped - We have played on musical instruments. A “pipe” was a wind instrument of music often used by shepherds.

Neither eating nor drinking - That is, abstaining from some kinds of food and wine, as a Nazarite. It does not mean that he did not eat at all, but that he was remarkable for abstinence.

He hath a devil - He is actuated by a bad spirit. He is irregular, strange, and cannot be a good man.

The Son of man came eating and drinking - That is, living as others do; not practicing austerity; and they accuse him of being fond of excess, and seeking the society of the wicked.

Gluttonous - One given to excessive eating.

Wine-bibber - One who drinks much wine. Jesus undoubtedly lived according to the general customs of the people of his time. He did not affect singularity; he did not separate himself as a Nazarite; he did not practice severe austerities. He ate that which was common and drank that which was common. As wine was a common article of beverage among the people, he drank it. It was the pure juice of the grape, and for anything that can be proved, it was without fermentation. In regard to the kind of wine which was used, see the notes at John 2:10. No one should plead the example, at any rate, in favor of making use of the wines that are commonly used in this country - wines, many of which are manufactured here, and without a particle of the pure juice of the grape, and most of which are mixed with noxious drugs to give them color and flavor.

Wisdom is justified of her children - The children of wisdom are the wise - those who understand. The Saviour means that though that generation of Pharisees and fault-finders did not appreciate the conduct of John and himself, yet the “wise,” the candid - those who understood the reasons of their conduct - would approve of and do justice to it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 11:16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? — That is, the Jewish people - την γενεαν ταυτην, this race: and so the word γενεα is often to be understood in the evangelists.

In the markets — Or, places of concourse, αγοραις, from αγειρω, I gather together; not a market-place only, but any place of public resort: probably meaning here, places of public amusement.

Calling unto their fellows — Or, companions. Instead of εταιροις, companions, many of the best MSS. have ετεροις, others. The great similarity of the words might have easily produced this difference.

There are some to whom every thing is useful in leading them to God; others, to whom nothing is sufficient. Every thing is good to an upright mind, every thing bad to a vicious heart.