Luke 7:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Yet wisdom is justified by all her children."

NIV: But wisdom is proved right by all her children."

NASB: And yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.'

CSB: Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

NLT: But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it. '

KJV: But wisdom is justified of all her children.

NKJV: But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Jesus has explained how Jews have used uncomfortable aspects of God's messengers as excuses to ignore their consistent message. Religious leaders and common people alike shun the self-denying lifestyle of John the Baptist, as well as his antagonistic call to repentance. They do the same with Jesus' own more celebratory lifestyle with repentant sinners (Luke 7:31–34). Jesus is directly referencing the "Pharisees and lawyers" who refused to be baptized by John (Luke 7:30), but He also speaks of "the people of this generation" (Luke 7:31). Few culture-sensitive Jews of that era would follow a rabbi who ate with sinners and tax collectors. Nicodemus' clandestine visit (John 3:1–2) makes for sharp contrast to Zacchaeus' public celebration (Luke 19:1–10).

Now, Jesus describes the sinners and tax collectors as wisdom's children. They are children in that they follow the ways of wisdom, compared to the religious leaders whom Jesus calls the children of the Devil (John 8:44). Wisdom has told them to repent of their sins, and they obey. "Wisdom" is presented as a personification of right thinking, as in Proverbs, directly coming from the nature of God (Proverbs 1:7). It is "justified" in the sense of being proven correct; this is the same way God is declared just (Luke 7:29). The choice of those who listen and accept God's purpose for them demonstrate the truth of His message.

In Matthew's account, Jesus says, "Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds" (Matthew 11:19). The two nouns—children and deeds—represent aspects of the full result: the followers are the children, and acts of repentance are their deeds.

Luke 7:24–35 records Jesus making an interesting observation. John lived an ascetic, monk-like lifestyle in the wilderness; Jesus eats and drinks alongside moral and social outcasts. Yet both preach the same message of repentance of sins. The sinners and tax collectors respond to both John and Jesus, drawn to the message without concern for their lifestyles. Stubborn religious leaders, however, claim to judge their lifestyles; what they really can't accept is the message proclaimed by Jesus and John. This section is also depicted in Matthew 11:7–19.

Luke 7 presents a chiasm: a set of themes mirrored around a reflection point. The humble centurion (Luke 7:1–10) contrasts the legalistic Pharisee (Luke 7:39–50). The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17) and the sinful women (Luke 7:36–38) have nothing to offer but gratitude for Jesus' blessings. In the center are John the Baptist and his disciples who struggle to trust that Jesus is worth following (Luke 7:18–23), then the sinners who do choose to follow Jesus and the religious leaders who refuse (Luke 7:24–35).

Luke 7 continues Jesus' mission primarily to the people of Galilee expressed as a series of pointed events and teachings punctuated by calls to follow Him. He has finished teaching the rigors of discipleship (Luke 6:17–45) and invited the crowd to place their faith in Him (Luke 6:46–49). Here, Luke describes different reactions to Jesus' miracles and message. Next, Jesus will reveal the mechanics of and reactions to His call (Luke 8:4–21) before showing His great authority over nature, demons, sickness, and worldly powers (Luke 8:22—9:17). After a final call to the disciples to deepen their faith (Luke 9:18–50), Jesus will turn toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.