Articles
"Wisdom Is Vindicated by All Her Children"
Our title is a statement Jesus made, recorded in Luke 7:35, with a slightly different wording in Matthew 11:19: “wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” What does it mean?
Wisdom
Wisdom is frequently personified in Scripture, often as a parent. The essays in the opening chapters of Proverbs especially employ that picture. This wisdom is the expression of God’s mind: “Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-6). Our text is literally “the wisdom.”
Wisdom’s Children
If wisdom is a parent, children are to be expected. Just the “sons of wickedness” are wicked people (2 Samuel 7:10), and the “sons of pride” are the proud (Job 41:34), and the “children of rebellion, offspring of deceit” are rebellious liars (Isaiah 57:4), so wisdom’s children are those who are wise. Wisdom’s children are those who listen to God’s wisdom and act on it.
Context
Jesus had just highly commended John the Baptist, whose work was to prepare the way for the Lord. While many had hearkened to John’s preaching, some, especially among Israel’s leaders, had not. They chided John because of his austere lifestyle, one which doubtless looked extremist. “For John the Baptist came eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’” (Luke 7:33).
Jesus’ approach was different, yet He had no greater success with this crowd. “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Luke 7:34).
Lesson
John and Jesus were especially the children of wisdom. The success of both these messengers vindicated the wisdom of their respective approaches, even though opposites; the “deeds” of wisdom as Matthew put it.
Jesus’ point was likely broader. Because the critics were determined to reject God’s message, nothing His messengers did was acceptable. Those who were open to God’s wisdom were receptive to both John and Jesus, each in their respective roles. Any time one acts on their teaching he is vindicating divine wisdom.
Now, let’s each ask, Might I be called wisdom’s child?
