Question from Luke 7: are the flute players and singers the good guys or the bad guys? Jesus tells the parable to the Pharisees and Lawyers to describe them. Are they the ones playing the flutes and the world isnt’ conforming to them? OR, are they the ones responding to the players and singers in the exact opposite manner they should? Here is the context from the ESV Bible…

“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 lbut the Pharisees and the lawyers nrejected othe 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 marketplace 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 peating no bread and qdrinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come reating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, sa friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet twisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7

So back to my question. Were the Pharisees the ones in Jesus’ illustration who played the pipes or are they the ones who would not dance? Were they the singers of the funeral dirge or the ones who did not mourn at hearing the dirge?

I think it is the latter. As the Pharisees never responded appropriately to the truth, it is like those who don’t mourn when the occasion calls for it. They don’t dance when the occasion calls for it. When everyone was being baptized by John, they rejected it. When they see a holy man, they say he has demons. When they see disciples celebrating and eating with Jesus, they accuse Jesus and His disciples of debauchery. Prideful and carnal minded people will never respond properly to the truth.

If you are committing secret sin, repent and get right with God. If you are proud of what means nothing, make those things to be rubbish and seek God. If hatred is filling your heart and mind, turn it over to God and let go because it will blind you to the truth. If you love this world, and love things that at best should only be liked, then they are your idol and will make you to hate spiritual things.

To embrace the truth requires being truth seekers and truth lovers. God will send a deluding influence on those who are not, 2 Thess 2:11. If the delusion has not come upon you yet, then read your Bible and accept what it says. Come to God with openness of heart, mind, and spirit to learn what Jesus has to say. Don’t be a Pharisee.

Have you gone the river to be baptized in name of the Father, Sin, and Holy Spirit to have your sins washed away? Jesus commanded it, Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 22:16. God bless you.

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