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“How can I describe the people who are living now? They are like children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to other children, 17‘We played music for you, but you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn’t show any sadness.’ “John came neither eating nor drinking, and people say, ‘There’s a demon in him!’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! He’s a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ “Yet, wisdom is proved right by its actions.” 20Then Jesus denounced the cities where he had worked most of his miracles because they had not changed the way they thought and acted.

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 3:4John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.
• Jeremiah 15:17I didn’t keep company with those who laugh and have fun. I sat alone because your hand was on me. You filled me with outrage.
• Jeremiah 16:8“Don’t even go into a home where there is a banquet. Don’t sit with them to eat and drink.
• Luke 1:15As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
• 1 Corinthians 9:27Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.
• Matthew 10:25It is enough for a student to become like his teacher and a slave like his owner. If they have called the owner of the house Beelzebul, they will certainly call the family members the same name.
• 2 Kings 9:11Jehu came out to his master’s officials. One of them asked him, “Is everything alright? Why did this lunatic come to you?” He answered, “You know the man and the kind of things he says.”
• Jeremiah 29:26The Lord made you priest instead of Jehoiada so that there would be officials for the Lord’s temple. You should put any lunatic who acts like a prophet in prison and in shackles.
• Hosea 9:7The time for them to be punished will come. The time for them to pay for their sins will come. ⌞When this happens,⌟ Israel will know it. ⌞They think that⌟ prophets are fools and that spiritual people are crazy. They have sinned a lot, and they are very hostile.
• John 7:20The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?”
• John 8:48The Jews replied to Jesus, “Aren’t we right when we say that you’re a Samaritan and that you’re possessed by a demon?”
• John 10:20Many of them said, “He’s possessed by a demon! He’s crazy! Why do you listen to him?”
• Acts 26:24As Paul was defending himself in this way, Festus shouted, “Paul, you’re crazy! Too much education is driving you crazy!”

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