Matthew 11:18

Matthew 11:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
• New International Version (NIV)For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

Context of Matthew 11:18

16“To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children: 17We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn! For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 20Then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent:

Matthew 11:18 word by word

ἦλθεν γὰρ Ἰωάννης μήτε ἐσθίων μήτε πίνων, καὶ λέγουσιν· δαιμόνιον ἔχει.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• neitherμήτεmēte · neitherG3383
• eatingἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
• drinkingπίνωpinō piō poō · to drinkG4095
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• they sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• He hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a devilδαιμόνιονdaimonion · demonG1140

Cross-references for Matthew 11:18

• Matthew 3:4Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
• Jeremiah 15:17I never sat with the band of revelers, and I did not celebrate with them. Because your hand was on me, I sat alone, for you filled me with indignation.
• Jeremiah 16:8Do not enter the house where feasting is taking place to sit with them to eat and drink.
• Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
• 1 Corinthians 9:27Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
• Matthew 10:25It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!
• 2 Kings 9:11When Jehu came out to his master’s servants, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this crazy person come to you?” Then he said to them, “You know the sort and their ranting.”
• Jeremiah 29:26‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of the priest Jehoiada to be the chief officer in the temple of the Lord, responsible for every madman who acts like a prophet. You must confine him in the stocks and an iron collar.
• Hosea 9:7The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have come. Let Israel recognize it! The prophet is a fool, and the inspired man is insane, because of the magnitude of your iniquity and hostility.
• John 7:20“You have a demon!” the crowd responded. “Who is trying to kill you?”
• John 8:48The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon?”
• John 10:20Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him?”
• Acts 26:24As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”

Commentaries on Matthew 11:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For John came neither eating nor drinking - Leading a very austere and mortified life: and yet, he did not receive him. A sinner will not be persuaded that what he has no mind to imitate can come from God. There are some who will rather blame holiness itself, than esteem it in those whom they do not like. He hath a devil - He is a vile hypocrite, influenced by a demon to deceive and destroy the simple.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-19Verses 16-19 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-24Verses 16-24 Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every one, however excellent and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19Here Jesus describes how both John and he himself offended the people of that generation. John lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey (Matthew 3:1, 4). People accused him of having a demon. Jesus, by contrast, ate and drank freely with others. People accused him of being like a rebellious son (see Deuteronomy 21:18–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-191. And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciple--rather, "the twelve disciples," he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities--This was scarcely a fourth circuit--if we may judge from the less formal way in which it was expressed--but, perhaps, a set of visits paid to certain places, either not reached at all before, or too rapidly passed through, in order to fill up the time till the return of the Twelve…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 11:18

• Abstinence, Total
• Asceticism
• Bigotry
• Epicureans
• Impenitence
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Nazarite
• Stoicism
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Easy
• Justify
• Learn
• Lowly
• Meek
• Mighty
• Pipe
• Rest
• Thou
• Upbraid

Commentaries on Matthew 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings