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Luke 7:35

in Luke 7

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

And wisdom is justified of all her children.

KJV

But wisdom is justified of all her children.

This verse in Luke 7

Commentary

18 notes on this verse

A commentator

Ambrose of Milan

Commentary on Luke · Written before 397.

(Verse 35.) Therefore Wisdom is justified by all her children. Well by all, because justice is preserved around all, so that the reception of the faithful may be, and the rejection of the unfaithful. From which the majority of Greeks have it thus: Wisdom is justified by all her works; that is, the work of justice is to preserve the measure around the merit of each individual.

This site's exposition

justified God

on Luke 7:29-35

All the people and the publicans justified God, being baptized with John's baptism, while the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves; Luke states the divide as history before Jesus states it as parable. The generation is like children in the marketplace whose games neither dirge nor dance can please: John came fasting and they said, He hath a devil; the Son of man came eating and drinking and they said, a gluttonous man, a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. The bench notes the Lord repeats the slur unretracted, for the friendship it mocks is the gospel itself, and the sinner about to weep at his feet will prove it. But wisdom is justified of all her children: those the wisdom of God has won vindicate her ways, whichever dress those ways wore.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 444.

But where could they point out the Lord as gluttonous? For Christ is found every where repressing excess, and leading men to temperance. But He associated with publicans and sinners. Hence they said against Him, He is a friend of Publicans and sinners, though He could in no wise fall into sin, but on the contrary was to them the cause of salvation. For the sun is not polluted though sending its rays over all the earth, and frequently falling upon unclean bodies. Neither will the Sun of righteousness be hurt by associating with the bad.

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

LETTER 36 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

The Lord made a truly necessary addition to these words when he said, "And wisdom is justified by her children." If you ask who those children are, read what is written, "The sons of wisdom are the church of the just."

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

(ubi sup.) Or, when he says, wisdom is justified of all her children, he shews that the children of wisdom understand that righteousness consists neither in abstaining from nor eating food, but in patiently enduring want. For not the use of such things, but the coveting after them, must be blamed; only let a man adapt himself to the kind of food of those with whom he lives.

A commentator

Ambrose of Milan

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 397.

proposed

The Son of God is wisdom, by nature, not by growth, which is justified by baptism, when it is not rejected through obstinacy, but through righteousness is acknowledged the gift of God. Herein then is the justification of God, if he seems to transfer His gifts not to the unworthy and guilty, but to those who are through baptism holy and just. He well says, of all, for justice is reserved for all, that the faithful may be taken up, the unbelievers cast out.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

(Hom. in Ps. 108.) But by the children of wisdom, He means the wise. For Scripture is accustomed to indicate the bad rather by their sin than their name, but to call the good the children of the virtue which characterizes them.
11 more voices on this verse

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Irenaeus

Against Heresies (Book I, Chapter 8) · Written before 202.

proposed

They also assert that by Anna, who is spoken of in the gospel [Luke 2:36] as a prophetess, and who, after living seven years with her husband, passed all the rest of her life in widowhood until she saw the Saviour, and recognised Him, and spoke of Him to all, was most plainly indicated Achamoth, who, having for a little while looked upon the Saviour with His associates, and dwelling all the rest of the time in the intermediate place, waited for Him till He should come again, and restore her to her proper consort. Her name, too, was indicated by the Saviour, when He said, "Yet wisdom is justified by her children." [Luke 7:35] This, too, was done by Paul in these words, "But we speak wisdom among them that are perfect." [1 Corinthians 2:6]

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

"And wisdom is justified by all her children," shows that the children of wisdom understand that righteousness does not consist in abstaining or in eating, but in the equanimity of enduring lack, and in not corrupting oneself with abundance through temperance, and in suitably partaking …

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 7 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

And because the blasphemy of the Jews is aggravated by the true preaching of the Apostles, therefore it is added: And Wisdom is justified by all her children. For the Evangelist calls Christ Wisdom, according to that passage of First Corinthians 1: "Who was made …

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But wisdom is justified by all her children - The children of wisdom are those who are truly wise unto salvation. The wisdom of God in all these dispensations, these various methods of calling sinners to repentance, is owned and heartily approved by all these.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

): Wisdom is justified of all her children. There are those who are given to wisdom as her children, and they shall be brought by the grace of God to submit to wisdom's conduct and government, and thereby to justify wisdom in the ways she takes for bringing them to that submission; for to them they are effectual, and thereby appear well chosen.

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But wisdom is justified of all her children.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Christ comforting a poor penitent that applied herself to him, all in tears of godly sorrow for sin, assuring her that her sins were pardoned, and justifying himself in the favour he showed her against the cavils of a proud Pharisee,

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Wisdom is justified, etc. - Probably the children of wisdom is a mere Hebraism here for the products or fruits of wisdom; hence the Vatican MS., one other, and some versions, have εργων, works, instead of τεκνων, sons, in the parallel place, Mat 11:19. True wisdom shows itself by its works; folly is never found in the wise man’s way, any more than wisdom is in the path of a fool. Theophylact’s note on this place should not be overlooked. Εδικαιωθη, τουτ’ εστιν ετιμηθη, Wisdom Is Justified, that is, Is Honored, by all her children.
We learn, in the first place, from these verses — that the hearts of unconverted men are often desperately perverse as well as wicked. Our Lord brings out this lesson in a remarkable comparison — describing the generation of men among whom He lived while He was on earth. He compares them to children . He says, that children at play were not more wayward, perverse, and hard to please — than the Jews of His day. Nothing would satisfy them. They were always finding fault. Whatever ministry God employed among them — they took exception to it.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

CHRIST'S FEET WASHED WITH TEARS. 37, 38. a sinner--one who had led a profligate life. Note.--There is no ground whatever for the popular notion that this woman was Mary Magdalene, nor do we know what her name was.
We learn, in the first place, from these verses — that the hearts of unconverted men are often desperately perverse as well as wicked. Our Lord brings out this lesson in a remarkable comparison — describing the generation of men among whom He lived while He was on earth. He compares them to children . He says, that children at play were not more wayward, perverse, and hard to please — than the Jews of His day. Nothing would satisfy them. They were always finding fault. Whatever ministry God employed among them — they took exception to it. Whatever messenger God sent among them — they were not pleased. First came John the Baptist — living a retired, ascetic, self-denying life. At once the Jews said, "He has a demon!" After him the Son of Man came — eating and drinking, and adopting habits of social life like the ordinary run of men. At once the Jews accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard! In short, it became evident that the Jews were determined to receive no message from God at all. Their pretended objections, were only a cloak to cover over their hatred of God's truth. What they really disliked was, not so much God's ministers — as God Himself. Perhaps we read this account with wonder and surprise. We think that never were men so wickedly unreasonable, as these Jews were. But are we sure that their conduct is not continually repeated among Christians? Do we not know that the same thing is continually going on around us at the present day? As strange as it may seem at first sight — the generation which will neither "dance" when their companions "play the flute," nor "lament" when they "sing a dirge" — is only too numerous in the Church of Christ. Is it not a fact that many who strive to serve Christ faithfully, and walk closely with God — find their neighbors and relations always dissatisfied with their conduct?

The words behind it

9 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hosea 14:9

    Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in…

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 10:29

      The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil.

    • Psalms 107:43

      Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.

    • John 8:47

      Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

    • Daniel 12:10

      Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

  • Through

    Matthew 11:19

    The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

    it leads to

    • Luke 7:34–36

      The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

    • Matthew 9:10–11

      Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.

    • Luke 15:1–2

      Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

    • Luke 19:7

      And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on Luke; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, LETTER 36; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 7; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Book I, Chapter 8); J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.