IN these verses of Luke chapter 7 Jesus reflects and mourns over the condition of the Jews at the time when he lived. It is easy to see these verses as an historical assessment that is interesting, and be critical of the behaviour of the Jews and leave the passage without further thought. If we do this we shall miss the point of its record by Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The fact is that the attitude and behaviour of the Jews at the time when Jesus lived in Palestine is not confined to that time only. The fact is that within the church in every age the devil's action causes similar attitude and behaviour, with the same sad consequences.

Jesus uses an illustration to describe the way the Jews were behaving when he lived and taught. It needs to be noticed that Jesus is not describing the world of unbelievers, but is describing what was in fact the church of his day, that is the religious people, the Jews whom God had chosen for his special blessing throughout the Old Testament time. They were the people who should have had a proper attitude and understanding, but instead they behaved like children.

The picture is of children at play. One group says one thing, and another group says something else, and they argue together and just waste their time. Children in play may just waste their time and nothing more, which may not be very serious; but in the case of the Jewish religious leaders their quarrelling had much more serious consequences. Because they were arguing amongst themselves, and maintaining their own opinions, they failed to see the truth. Not only did they deprive themselves, but they deprived the people whom they led and taught. If the matter had been trivial then it may not have mattered much, but because it was a matter concerning their relationship with God, and the health of their soul, which has eternal consequences, their arguing had devastating and awful consequences.

These Jewish leaders had their own opinion concerning what was God's religion. They were proud of their own wisdom. They were ready to criticise rather than listen. They were diligent in holding to their opinions because they were quite certain they were right. So when God sent John the Baptist whose message was uncomfortable, they simply criticised John and belittled his way of life. When Jesus came they looked down on Jesus because his way of life of love and caring for sinners opposed their opinions on what God looked for in people. They were quite certain they were right in their wisdom and opinions and in consequence they were ready to criticise and reject, rather than to listen, assess and believe the ones God sent for their salvation.

This behaviour is as common today in the church as it was in the time of Jesus. Man puts its trust in human wisdom, and the traditions of men, and so the truth of God is made to fit that way, and because of this the truth of God in the Bible, and the teaching of those who uphold the truth of the Bible, is rejected, ridiculed and despised. The mind of these people are shut to the truth because they are convinced that their understanding of what is God's way and truth is the only viable understanding. They are blind and in their blindness will reject and despised God's truth out of hand. The consequences are the same as they were in the time of Jesus. In such blindness these men and women go their own way, and in the end suffer the consequences of their pride in their opinions, and find they have ended up in hell. The trouble is that these teachers and leaders do not only effect their own eternal destiny, but also of the very many that follow their teaching and lead.

However all is not all gloom and doom. Jesus ends his reflection with the good news that his wisdom is embraced by many, and is proved right by them who he refers to as the children of his wisdom.

This is the glorious fact that in spite of the great majority of religious leaders who despise God's wisdom in favour of their own wisdom, there are many who are different. They are the children of God's truth and wisdom. Jesus speaks of his wisdom as simply wisdom, because it is the only true and real wisdom. Jesus states a fact. Those who embrace wisdom, that is his wisdom which is the wisdom of God, find that it is true wisdom. It does do 'what it says on the packet' to use an advertising slogan of today. Those are children of wisdom, who have received the truth by faith, and find it saves. It gives peace with God. It brings power to live for God. It gives joy in the presence of God. It delights the soul, and is something for which the mind and soul of those who embrace it find ever more nourishing and glorious. Newton in his hymn speaks "fading is the world's best pleasures, all its boasted pomp and show. Solid joys and lasting treasures none but Zion's children know."

The question is how are we in relationship to what Jesus says here. Are we like so many who set their wisdom above the wisdom of God in the Scriptures, and judge it, and will not receive true wisdom. Are we those who are described by Paul in 1 Corinthians who come under the statement that “the world in its wisdom does not know God”; or are we the children of wisdom who have proved the wisdom of God is true and the truth by its power and blessing in our lives.