John has a Devil? - Matthew 11:18

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus questioned, “where-unto 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 you have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and you have not lamented”, and in chapter eleven and verse eighteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus shared how people said of John the Baptist, “He has a devil” where we read:

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a devil.

The verse reads, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, ...” Matthew began with the words, “for John” which means “because, since and on account that John the Baptist” “came neither” or “did not arrive, arise or appear” “eating” which means “consuming and devouring” “nor drinking” or “no not in any way imbibing”. Matthew shared how John the Baptist did not arrive on the scene “eating and drinking” with people.

The verse continues, “... and they say, He has a devil.” Matthew added the words, “and they say” which means “and the people around John the Baptist uttered, declared and proclaimed that”, “He has a devil” or “John the Baptist was determined by the people to have a “demon” within him. Matthew shared how Jesus said people declared that John the Baptist was “demon possessed”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how people judged John the Baptist as having a “devil”. Though he was actually the fore-runner to the Messiah Jesus, the multitude made an assessment that was totally incorrect. God had His plan to send His Son Jesus the Messiah to come on the scene, and though people said John the Baptist had a “devil”, God used Him to announce the only One who is the “Savior and Lord” of all mankind.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “the Son of man came eating and drinking”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.