What Old Testament examples parallel the rejection seen in Luke 7:33? Luke 7:33 Revisited “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’” Old Testament Echoes of Rejection • Hosea 9:7 – “The prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a madman.” – Israel brands Hosea insane, just as John is called demon-possessed. • 2 Kings 9:11 – Jehu’s officers ask, “Why did this madman come to you?” – Elisha’s messenger is dismissed as a lunatic. • 1 Kings 22:8 – Ahab on Micaiah: “I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me.” – Rejection because the message is uncomfortable, not because it is untrue. • Amos 7:12-13 – Amaziah to Amos: “Go away, you seer! … do not prophesy anymore at Bethel.” – Religious leaders silence a faithful prophet, mirroring the scribes and Pharisees’ attitude. • Jeremiah 38:4 – Officials plead, “Let this man be put to death.” – Jeremiah’s warnings are labeled treasonous; John’s warnings are labeled demonic. • 2 Chronicles 24:20-21 – Zechariah son of Jehoiada is stoned in the temple court. – Hostility escalates from slander to murder—foreshadowing John’s own martyrdom. • Isaiah 30:10 – The people say, “Give us no more visions of what is right; speak to us pleasant words.” – Preference for comfortable lies over convicting truth. • Amos 2:11-12 – “You made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.” – Nazirites, like John, abstained from wine; the people pressured them to conform instead of honoring their vow. Shared Threads – Ascetic lifestyles (John, Nazirites) provoke ridicule rather than respect. – True prophets are labeled insane, dangerous, or negative. – Rejection often comes from the very people who should have welcomed God’s word—kings, priests, and the covenant community. – Hostility grows: first mockery, then silencing, finally violence. Takeaways for Today • Faithfulness to God’s message, not public approval, marks a true servant. • The charge “He has a demon” is simply the latest version of an ancient pattern—when hearts harden, they attack the messenger. • Knowing these Old Testament parallels reassures us that rejection does not mean failure; it often means we stand in a long, honorable line of faithful witnesses. |
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