Children in the marketplace

Whereunto, asks Jesus, shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

The children's game was likely similar to Simon Says, or some child's play in which the children make up their own rules, and if you didn't follow them, you lost or were banished from the game. So also, an evil generation makes its own rules and neither John nor Jesus followed them and so were banished. Thus must we remember  that friendship with the world is enmity with God. You cannot serve God and mammon. And those who serve God have in Christ a Savior, and in his wisdom find everlasting salvation.

Sermon for Trinity X midweek is here.