[B-Greek] Mt 11:19 the works and the wisdom
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Thu Aug 14 13:43:16 EDT 2003
This message was sent, I think, to the wrong address for list-messages but
somehow came through to administrators; it was clearly meant for the list
so I am sending it on to list-members.
Forwarded for "Lyle Story" <lylesto at regent.edu>
To: <b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: My suggestion on the verse
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 10:32:22 -0400
Perhaps the puzzling verse is to be explained from the immediate context of
the parable. This "wisdom" belongs to God in sending His messenger (11:10)
and the Messiah whom the messenger announces (v. 10). Though the prior
divine "press" each receives is followed by criticism and scorn heaped on
both (11:18-19), nonetheless, the wisdom of God is "justified", i.e.,
"declared to be in the right." The wisdom of God is explicit in the
messenger ("my messenger"--v. 10) and implicit in the sending of the
Messiah ("before your face"--v. 10). Even though now incarcerated and
temporarily doubting the identity of Jesus (11:2-3), the Baptist is
nonetheless praised by Jesus for his works; he is "more than a prophet"
(11:9). In addition, Jesus testifies in detail as to His own beneficent
works (11:4-6). The works of both (the Baptist and Jesus) are the
"vindication" ("justification") of a wise God in sending both the messenger
and Messiah, who are juxtaposed in the previous verses. In other words, the
criticism and scorn directed against both the Baptist and Jesus is amply
answered in the life work of each.
J. Lyle Story
Professor of Biblical Languages and New Testament
Regent University
(757) 226-4402
lylesto at regent.edu email
<http://home.regent.edu/lylesto/>http://home.regent.edu/lylesto/
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