16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

The contrasting lifestyles of John and Jesus proved troublesome to the Jews at large. Spring-boarding from His teaching to the disciples about John’s prominence among all the prophets and the greater position of believers in the kingdom, Jesus turns His comments to those who refuse the message of both John and Himself. The Jewish leaders held sway, as leaders do in all social or religious institutions, either openly or subtly controlling people’s behavior. Jesus likened their responses to childish whining that neither He nor John would dance to their tune.

Jesus, in using the term “generation,” refers to the Jewish people as a whole who would not accept His teachings. Yet, God has always had His remnant of believers. Today seems to reflect a similar situation in the institutional church. On one side there is criticism of those Christians who are too extreme in their devotion to righteousness. The sentiment is that we should be able to enjoy worldly pleasures without puritanical guilt. Old convictions are marginalized as legalistic. On the other hand, there is criticism against those who enjoy freedom from legalism and strictness, judging them to be conforming to fleshly worldliness, given over to wonton pleasures of the sin.

The fact remains, based on the examples of John and Jesus, that there is a place for different lifestyles and applications of Kingdom living. While John was not a participant of the Kingdom of Heaven per se, it is clear from Scripture that there is a time and place for disciplines of the flesh. Being a disciple means self-discipline! For example, that great preacher of grace, Paul, engaged in fasting at times (Acts 13:2). Yet Christians are to live in liberty as Jesus did, not shackled by the whims of others and their interpretations of the law.

There is a time for refraining and a time for enjoying the good things God provides. Christians debate things like use of wine, forms of entertainment and kinds of clothes fashions. Certainly Scripture addresses these things (see 1 Cor 8-9, Rom 14) but our behavior should not be controlled by the opinion of others.

Lord, help me to gain my convictions from the Word of God and be certain of the things I believe and practice.