SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:19
Vino el Hijo del hombre, que come y bebe, y dicen: He aquí un hombre glotn y bebedor de vino, amigo de publicanos y de pecadores. Mas la sabiduría es aprobada por sus hijos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:19
Verse 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking] That is, went wheresoever he was invited to eat a morsel of bread, and observed no rigid fasts: how could he, who had no corrupt appetites to mortify or subdue? They say, Behold a man gluttonous, &c.] Whatever measures the followers of God may take, they will not escape the censure of the world: the best way is not to be concerned at them. Iniquity, being always ready to oppose and contradict the Divine conduct, often contradicts and exposes itself. But wisdom is justified of her children.] Those who follow the dictates of true wisdom ever justify, point out as excellent, the holy maxims by which they are guided, for they find the way pleasantness, and the path, peace. Of, here, and in many places of our translation, ought to be written by in modern English. Some suppose that our blessed Lord applies the epithet of h sofia, that Wisdom to himself; as he does that of Son of man, in the first clause of the verse: and that this refers to the sublime description given of wisdom in Proverbs 8. Others have supposed that by the children or sons (teknwn) of wisdom our Lord means John Baptist and himself, who came to preach the doctrines of true wisdom to the people, and who were known to be teachers come from God by all those who seriously attended to their ministry: they recommending themselves, by the purity of their doctrines, and the holiness of their lives, to every man's conscience in the sight of God. It is likely, however, that by children our Lord simply means the fruits or effects of wisdom, according to the Hebrew idiom, which denominates the fruits or effects of a thing, its children. So in Job v. 7, sparks emitted by coals are termed Pr ynb beney resheph, the children of the coal. It was probably this well known meaning of the word, which led the Codex Vaticanus, one of the most ancient MSS.
in the world, together with the Syriac, Persic, Coptic, and Ethiopic, to read ergwn, works, instead of teknwn, sons or children. Wisdom is vindicated by her works, i.e. the good effects prove that the cause is excellent.
The children of true wisdom can justify all God's ways in their salvation; as they know that all the dispensations of Providence work together for the good of those who love and fear God. See on Luke vii. 35.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. The son of man came eating and drinking , etc.] Meaning himself, who ate and drank as men usually do, lived in the common way of life, was free and sociable, went to feasts, entertainments, and weddings, when he was invited; and was affable, courteous, and friendly in his deportment, to all men; and they say, behold a man gluttonous , a voracious man, an epicurean, one that indulges his appetite to a very great degree, and in a scandalous manner; a winebibber , a common tippler, one that drinks to excess; whom the Rabbins call f687 , rgrg , who is one, they say, that drinks up his cup at one draught; one that is given to wine, and is greedy of it: a friend of publicans and sinners ; such as are openly and notoriously wicked; and loves their company, for the sake of tippling with them; and encourages them in their revelling and drunkenness; a very black charge this! But wisdom is justified of her children ; either the wisdom of God, in making use of ministers of a different disposition and deportment, whereby some are gained, and others left inexcusable: or the Gospel, in which there is such a display of divine wisdom, which is vindicated from the charge of licentiousness, by the agreeable lives and conversations of the children of God: or rather Christ himself, who is the wisdom of God; and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; who, however he may be traduced by ignorant and malicious men, yet will be acquitted from all such charges, as here insinuated, by all the true sons of wisdom; or by such, who are made wise unto salvation. We may learn from hence, that no sort of preachers and preaching will please some men; that the best of Gospel ministers may be reproached as libertines, or madmen; and that they will be sooner, or later, justified and cleared from all such aspersions.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-24 - Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud concei of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for whic they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge agains every one, however excellent and holy. Christ, who was undefiled, an separate from sinners, is here represented as in league with them, an polluted by them. The most unspotted innocence will not always be defence against reproach. Christ knew that the hearts of the Jews wer more bitter and hardened against his miracles and doctrines, than thos of Tyre and Sidon would have been; therefore their condemnation woul be the greater. The Lord exercises his almighty power, yet he punishe none more than they deserve, and never withholds the knowledge of the truth from those who long after it.
Greek Textus Receptus
ηλθεν 2064 5627 V-2AAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM υιος 5207 N-NSM του 3588 T-GSM ανθρωπου 444 N-GSM εσθιων 2068 5723 V-PAP-NSM και 2532 CONJ πινων 4095 5723 V-PAP-NSM και 2532 CONJ λεγουσιν 3004 5719 V-PAI-3P ιδου 2400 5628 V-2AAM-2S ανθρωπος 444 N-NSM φαγος 5314 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ οινοποτης 3630 N-NSM τελωνων 5057 N-GPM φιλος 5384 A-NSM και 2532 CONJ αμαρτωλων 268 A-GPM και 2532 CONJ εδικαιωθη 1344 5681 V-API-3S η 3588 T-NSF σοφια 4678 N-NSF απο 575 PREP των 3588 T-GPN τεκνων 5043 N-GPN αυτης 846 P-GSF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
11:19 {Wisdom is justified by her works} (edikaiwqe apo twn ergwn autes). A timeless aorist passive (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 836f.). The word "justified" means "set right" Luke (#Lu 7:35) has "by all her children" as some MSS. have here to make Matthew like Luke. These words are difficult, but understandable. God's wisdom has planned the different conduct of both John and Jesus. He does not wish all to be just alike in everything. " this generation" (verse #16) is childish, not childlike, and full of whimsical inconsistencies in their faultfinding. They exaggerate in each case. John did not have a demon and Jesus was not a glutton or a winebibber. "And, worse than either, for filos is used in a sinister sense and implies that Jesus was the comrade of the worst characters, and like them in conduct. A malicious nickname at first, it is now a name of honor: the sinner's lover" (Bruce). Cf. #Lu 15:2. The plan of God is justified by results.
