Luke 7:24-35 The Least in the Kingdom is Greater
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[b]
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Reflection:
When Jesus says the least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist, he is not discounting John's ministry, but he is distinguishing those who will be operating in the power of the resurrection after he dies. This had not happened yet, so in that sense John was born of a woman, and not born from above. Yet Jesus still calls John the greatest prophet the world have ever seen.
Then we again see the Pharisees, who not wanting to see the truth or listen to John's call to repent, find fault in both John and Jesus' ministry for different reasons. John came neither eating or drinking wine, and they said he had a demon, and Jesus who hung out eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners, they called a drunkard. The point is rather than being convicted of their own sinful nature, they tried justify their actions with these rationalizations about others.
So the two lessons today are: One, we who have been given the power of the Holy Spirit have great capacity to usher in God's kingdom. The least in the kingdom is still the greatest because if you have Christ you have it all. There are no greater or lesser ranks in God's kingdom. Second, we need to be careful not to judge by outward appearances. The tendency was to judge John because of the way he looked and acted. But Jesus judged him on his role as a prophet and messenger of the Son of God, not the type of clothes he wore or what he ate or drank.
Let's remember what Paul said to the Roman Christians in Romans 14 in terms of what is most important,
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval."
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[b]
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Reflection:
When Jesus says the least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist, he is not discounting John's ministry, but he is distinguishing those who will be operating in the power of the resurrection after he dies. This had not happened yet, so in that sense John was born of a woman, and not born from above. Yet Jesus still calls John the greatest prophet the world have ever seen.
Then we again see the Pharisees, who not wanting to see the truth or listen to John's call to repent, find fault in both John and Jesus' ministry for different reasons. John came neither eating or drinking wine, and they said he had a demon, and Jesus who hung out eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners, they called a drunkard. The point is rather than being convicted of their own sinful nature, they tried justify their actions with these rationalizations about others.
So the two lessons today are: One, we who have been given the power of the Holy Spirit have great capacity to usher in God's kingdom. The least in the kingdom is still the greatest because if you have Christ you have it all. There are no greater or lesser ranks in God's kingdom. Second, we need to be careful not to judge by outward appearances. The tendency was to judge John because of the way he looked and acted. But Jesus judged him on his role as a prophet and messenger of the Son of God, not the type of clothes he wore or what he ate or drank.
Let's remember what Paul said to the Roman Christians in Romans 14 in terms of what is most important,
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval."
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