Matthew 11:18

Sunday, 6 July 2025

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ Matthew 11:18

“For, he came, John, neither eating, neither drinking, and they say he has a demon!” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus gave an example of what “this generation” is like, saying, “We piped to you and not you danced. We bewailed to you and not you breast-beat.” He continues now with, “For, he came, John, neither eating, neither drinking.”

The meaning here is more than just his limited diet, which is recorded in Matthew 3:4 –

“And he, John, had his apparel from camel’s hair, and a leathery girdle around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

The thought of eating and drinking extends to social life, where eating and drinking are a part of the natural course of human interaction. In other words, John’s life was that of a prophet preparing the way for the Lord. He did this in the wilderness, living a life of austerity and isolation.

In this state, someone may have come and said, “I’d like to talk to you about your message, come and join us at our meal tonight.” This is something John would have likely refused, maybe offering them a bowl of dried locusts instead and saying, “Join me here for a meal. This is where I belong.”

John limited his diet and everything that goes along with eating. Parties, feasts, dinner invitations, etc., would all have been shunned by him. Therefore, because of this obscure and difficult to understand lifestyle, Jesus next says, “and they say he has a demon!”

This is what it says about the demoniacs in Chapter 8 –

“And He, having come into the beyond, into the country of the Gergesenes, two ‘being demon possessed,’ they met Him, coming out from the tombs – exceedingly dangerous – so too, not anyone capacitate to pass through that way.” Matthew 8:28

They lived in an area shunned by others, cut off from the normal ways of life. Because John was somewhat like this, instead of recognizing him as a prophet and grasping the importance of his ministry, they accused him of having a demon.

Life application: One of the traits that is often seen in people who are exceptional in their field is eccentricity, even to the point of being thought to suffer from mental instability. People with great intellects who have made some of the most profound discoveries in their occupations have been considered unconventional, and their lives troubled.

Van Gogh, da Vinci, Nietzsche, Hemingway, Tesla, Mozart, Bonaparte, Byron, Freud, Einstein, and so many others were, at times, close to being off their rocker. Van Gogh cut off his own ear, something not normally thought of as a sign of sharp mental acuity.

Fortunately for them, their skills in their professions were recognized and they were appreciated, despite their often-bizarre behavior. If you come across someone who seems a tad eccentric or doesn’t fit into the traditional paradigm that society has set, don’t underestimate him or dismiss him outright. It may be that his focus is so poignantly directed that the normal rules for social behavior don’t interest him.

At the same time, he may be as crazy as a loon, so don’t just assume that everyone who is odd is a genius.

Lord God, may our judgments about those we encounter always be carefully considered. First and foremost, may we look at each person as an individual who needs Jesus. If we remember this, surely we will see them in a different way than if we judge by mere appearances. Help us to look for Your image in those we encounter. Amen.