Matthew 11:18 kjv
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Matthew 11:18 nkjv
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
Matthew 11:18 niv
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
Matthew 11:18 esv
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
Matthew 11:18 nlt
For John didn't spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.'
Matthew 11 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 1:6 | John was clothed with camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist... | John's distinct ascetic clothing/diet |
| Matt 3:4 | Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. | John's Nazirite-like appearance/diet |
| Lk 1:15 | For he will be great in the sight of the Lord... and he will never take wine or other fermented drink. | Prophecy of John's lifelong abstinence |
| Num 6:2-4 | Rules for the Nazirite vow: no strong drink, wine, grapes, or wine vinegar. | Parallels with Nazirite discipline |
| 2 Kgs 1:8 | They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.” Then he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” | Elijah's ascetic prophetic image |
| Matt 12:24 | But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” | Accusation of demonic influence against Jesus |
| Jn 7:20 | “You have a demon!” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” | False accusation of demon-possession on Jesus |
| Jn 8:48 | The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and a demon-possessed?” | Jews accuse Jesus of being demon-possessed |
| Jn 10:20 | Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why listen to him?” | Many believed Jesus was demon-possessed/mad |
| Acts 26:24 | At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” | Similar accusation of madness to Paul |
| Hos 9:7 | The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool; the inspired person is insane. | Prophets historically dismissed as fools/mad |
| Lk 7:30 | But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. | Religious leaders' rejection of John's message |
| Matt 23:37 | “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you…” | Israel's history of rejecting prophets |
| Acts 7:51-52 | “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?” | Consistent rejection of God's messengers |
| Jer 7:25-26 | From the day your ancestors came out of Egypt until now, I have constantly sent you my servants the prophets... But they did not listen. | Israel's long history of rejecting prophets |
| 2 Chr 36:15-16 | The LORD… sent messengers to them… But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets… | Israel mocking and rejecting prophets |
| Matt 11:16-17 | To what can I compare this generation?... They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out… | The "peevish generation" context |
| Matt 11:19 | The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ | Direct contrast with Jesus's reception |
| Rom 1:21-22 | Though they knew God, they neither glorified him... Their thinking became futile... Claiming to be wise, they became fools. | Spiritual blindness leading to foolish judgments |
| 2 Cor 4:4 | The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel… | Satan's role in blinding hearts |
| Jn 3:19-20 | This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. | Preference for darkness over challenging truth |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 18 Meaning
Matthew 11:18 reveals the judgmental and inconsistent reaction of the people to John the Baptist's ministry. John lived an austere life, marked by significant asceticism and self-denial, symbolically "neither eating nor drinking" in the conventional sense of regular societal engagement. However, instead of recognizing his prophetic role and spiritual discipline, his contemporaries, particularly the religious leaders and crowds swayed by their opinion, dismissed him by falsely accusing him of being demon-possessed, implying he was mad or controlled by evil. This accusation served as an excuse to reject his message of repentance and his call to prepare for the Messiah.
Matthew 11 18 Context
Matthew 11:18 is part of Jesus's broader discourse about John the Baptist and the unresponsive generation of his time. This verse follows Jesus's powerful affirmations of John's unique role as a prophet and "more than a prophet," and as the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy regarding Elijah. Despite Jesus's commendation, He laments that many, especially the religious elite, did not recognize John for who he truly was. This verse, along with the subsequent verse about Jesus himself, forms a "lament" (vv. 16-19) contrasting John's austere ministry and Jesus's more communal approach, highlighting how an unrepentant generation found fault with both. The historical context includes the diverse religious groups in Judea—Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes—and the common people, many of whom were religiously nominal or looking for specific types of Messiahs/prophets that did not match John or Jesus. The accusation of "having a demon" was a severe form of slander, a polemic designed to utterly discredit a public figure, particularly one who challenged existing norms or spiritual authority.
Matthew 11 18 Word analysis
- For John came: "For" (γὰρ - gar) links to the previous context, providing an explanation for why wisdom is "proved right by her deeds" (v. 19b). John's arrival (Ἦλθεν - Ēlthen) signifies his role as God's sent messenger, acting under divine commission and authority, not by human will. His "coming" was a significant prophetic event in Israel's history, signaling the proximity of the Messiah.
- neither eating nor drinking: (μήτε ἐσθίων μήτε πίνων - mēte esthion mēte pinōn). This phrase emphasizes John's extreme ascetic lifestyle, characteristic of prophets like Elijah or potentially influenced by Nazirite vows. It refers to a consistent practice of abstention from ordinary social meals and conventional enjoyment of food and drink, setting him apart. It wasn't just occasional fasting, but a distinct and rigorous mode of life that communicated a profound urgency and commitment to his message. The double negative highlights the absolute nature of his discipline, distinguishing him from societal norms and symbolizing the impending judgment and need for repentance.
- and they say: This represents the widespread public opinion or the common slander circulated by those hostile to John, often stirred by religious authorities. The impersonal "they" indicates a generalized rejection by a significant segment of society. This highlights their dismissive and condemning judgment rather than thoughtful discernment.
- He has a demon!: (Δαιμόνιον ἔχει - Daimonion echei). This was a grave accusation. It implied not merely eccentricity but mental illness, madness, or, more severely, actual demonic possession—being controlled or influenced by an evil spirit. Such a charge aimed to completely invalidate John's ministry, making his message appear to be the ranting of a madman or worse, an agent of evil. It served as a complete dismissal and slander against God's appointed prophet.
Matthew 11 18 Bonus section
The reaction to John the Baptist in Matthew 11:18 is a vivid illustration of humanity's perverse refusal to accept God's gracious intervention. The "wise and understanding" (as they perceived themselves) found fault with John's rigorous approach and, as seen in the very next verse, with Jesus's approachable one (Matt 11:19). This showcases a deep-seated spiritual blindness where the message, not the messenger's style, is the true point of offense. People often prefer to judge the "package" (how God's messenger appears or acts) rather than confront the content of God's Word, which challenges their comfort or sin. It implies that had John been different, they still would have found a reason to reject him. This highlights a pervasive issue of the heart: the refusal to genuinely repent or acknowledge divine authority. Ultimately, "wisdom is justified by her deeds" (Matt 11:19), meaning that true discernment will recognize God's work regardless of the outward form of His messenger, while those who continually invent excuses expose their own spiritual rebellion.
Matthew 11 18 Commentary
Matthew 11:18 starkly reveals the human tendency to reject God's truth and His messengers, regardless of their approach. John the Baptist's disciplined, ascetic life, marked by detachment from worldly comforts, was intended to underscore the gravity of his message of repentance and judgment. Yet, the people, hardened in heart, chose to invent an excuse for their spiritual apathy, resorting to the grave slander that John "had a demon." This accusation of madness or demonic influence was the ultimate dismissive critique, a cynical attempt to discredit one whose lifestyle and message made them uncomfortable. It was a rejection not of his methods, but of God's call for repentance that he embodied. The irony is profound: those who accused a Spirit-filled prophet of demonic influence were themselves blinded by spiritual darkness and malice.