Daily Bible Reading 26th June 2026 // Luke 7:24-35
24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another,
“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Jesus' parabolic words are significant in a general way, beyond His own immediate circumstances. Those who oppose and resist the gospel and continue in unbelief often tell themselves that they have good reasons for doing so. When a straight and challenging message is preached, they object to it as being too personal, or too severe, or too solemn. 'That is just his idea of the gospel', they think, 'and there are other, different ones'. And, of course, it is always possible to find fault with the preacher: he does or does not do this, he does or does not do that, and so on. And this is made the excuse for the opposition to the gospel. This can always be said about a preacher, just as it can be said about Christians in general: they are not perfect. But this also needs to be said: it is just as often the case that objection is raised against Christians - or preachers - not because of their faults, but because they are faithful, and their faithfulness is a rebuke and a challenge to those who oppose the gospel. Their objection is not to the fault of believers, but to the goodness which they represent and which, in spite of their faults, they show forth. It was the very men who objected to John's ministry because it was too severe that also opposed Jesus' message when it was gentle and full of grace - and He was faultless. The truth is, says Jesus, when men are opposed to the gospel, they will oppose it in whatever way it is proclaimed to them. It is the gospel they object to, attractive or stern in its appeal. What is more - and this is clear from the nature of Jesus' parable in 32 - when men do this, they are playing with the gospel and trifling with holy things. But it is no idle game when we are confronted with the claims of Christ, nor simply a matter of opinion, but a matter of life and death.