Check out Luke 7:34-35 first... (that's where the note for Matthew 11:19 sent me in my NIV study bible) It's describing the same situation as in Matthew.
"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
The NIV's commentary has this to say... (and I agree with it)- "In contrast to the rejection by foolish critics, spiritually wise persons could see that the ministries of both John and Jesus were godly, despite their differences..."
Basicaly... stating that "foolish critics" would find fault with anything... and basicaly proved themselves to be hypocrites for faulting John for NOT eating and drinking... and at the same time finding fault with Jesus FOR eating and drinking, (as opposed to holding to some type of life-long fast like John did).
I checked out the greek text... and that "proved right" that the NIV uses in both Matthew and Luke is translated from a word that has to do with being "justified, holy, righteous..." And it also has to do with the ACTION of these things... being RENDERED or SHOWN TO BE justified, holy, righteous, ect... In other words, not only is God's wisdom "justified, holy, and righteous"... higher than our ways... but His wisdom will also be SHOWN to be "justified, holy, and righteous" through His children... (In this case, John and Jesus, in two different ways.)
As a side note... this makes me think of Ephesians 3:10... one of my favorite verses. = ) "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms..." In other words... God wants to do with us, the church, exactly what He did with Job... (even though Job didn't know what was happening...) God pointed Job out to Satan... basicaly saying "Have you seen what I can do with this lowly man, if He submits to me..." He was showing off His "manifold wisdom"... His own glory... through Job. The same thing was happening with John the Baptist and with Jesus as well... God wants to use all His children to prove His wisdom and show off His glory and "manifold wisdom" (meaning it's perfect no matter what angle you look at it from, like a diamond that's been cut with many sides).
Hope I didn't ramble too much = ) Really good study you got me into though! HAHA! God bless... = )
In Christ Jesus,
~ Joshua
www.christianity.com/joshuas_journal
