Luke 7:31-35 (NASB)
31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
In our Gospel today, that generation in Israel rejected both John, the Baptist and Jesus, the Christ, because John was too unsocial, although son of the priest Zechariah, did not mingle and drink wine, more like a demoniac than a rational man; and then his Master, was his extreme opposite, drinking and eating with the sinners, and consorting with the lowest classes of society. Not only the scribes and teachers of the Law rejected Him, but His own relatives as well. (Luke 4:24) Why? Their human wisdom told them, Jesus is just a carpenter, the son of Mary in Nazareth, the sin city. (Mark 6:3) Jesus saw the problem of humans relying on their wisdom on who is the Messiah. He directed it with these questions in Luke 7:24-25, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!”
Unfortunately, that generation continues to exist today. The worse is, even Jesus Christ proved already Himself to be the Savior, the Messiah, the Son of the Living GOD, who lived denying Himself as God, and emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, no splendid clothes and luxuries,-- in short, set as example for us to follow, but still, many who know Him and believe that they are Christians, they tend to live according to their own human wisdom. “Whoever has the money, has the rule.” We know Christ, but here we are, whose living is opposite of Christ. Yes, we don’t live in royal robes in a palace, but in signature purses, clothes, and shoes, etc…having luxury cars, and too big houses. We only associate with the people of distinction. Our immediate concern is our reputation to human standards, our boasting is on these worldly things. Is this Godly living? Is this the Wisdom of GOD, and are we vindicating Christ, for us to be called the children of Wisdom?
The truth is, we can only prove that we accepted Jesus if we had loved the wisdom of GOD. In fact, GOD, The FATHER has instructed us to love her, His Wisdom. Proverbs 4:4-7 says,
“4 Then He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast My Words;
Keep My Commandments and live;
5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”
Job ask before in the book of Job 28:12 -14
12 “But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 “Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
Now, it is a must for all Christians to know what is GOD’s Wisdom and where it can be found, before acquiring it. And no resources would be providing the true meaning except from the Holy Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 1:18:30 says it all.
The Wisdom of God
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
But now GOD showed us His Wisdom more clearly throughout the life of His begotten Son Jesus Christ. From Jesus' birth, His evangelization, His sufferings, Death and Resurrection. Yes, GOD’s Wisdom is Christ! So as Colossians 2:8-10 advised us, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made COMPLETE, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”
Human knowledge (what we have learned in this world) nor human wisdom (how and when to apply our knowledge in this world) would not be enough to claim the promise of Eternal Life in Heaven with GOD. But what matters is to live as children of GOD, applying His Wisdom Christ Jesus, His simplicity and humility, His selflessness, His patience and self control, His generosity and kindness, His faithfulness... His kind of love for us, be completed in us through His Holy Spirit in us, AMEN.
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