Commentary LibraryCommentaries on Matthew 11:17
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John Gill
And saying, we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced,.... The allusion is to Jewish children, who having seen their parents and friends at their festivals and weddings, some play upon the pipe, and others dance to them, mimicked the same in their diversions; and also having observed, at funerals, the mourning women, making their doleful ditties, and others answering to them, acted the part...
Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. The constant and unwearied diligence of our Lord Jesus in his great work of preaching the gospel, ver. 1. II. His discourse with the disciples of John concerning his being the Messiah, ver. 2-6. III. The honourable testimony that Christ bore to John Baptist, ver. 7-15. IV. The sad account he gives of that generation in general, and of some particular places with...
Charles H. Spurgeon
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows. And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. The children would not agree, Whatever game was proposed, some of them would not follow it. At one time they imitated the pipers, and then the offsets would not...
Charles H. Spurgeon
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. “You would not join in our game; whichever we chose to do, to imitate a festival or a funeral, you would not take part with us.”