Introduction: In this lesson we read of two incidents which are challenging and deserving of our attention and careful consideration. We need to ask if we see similar things happening in our religious communities today. If so, what are their significance? How should we respond to such?

1. Jesus LIKENING (Comparing) the people of His day as to "children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not wept." (Vs. 31-35).
        (a) Jesus, evidently, meant to show that the religious people of His day were acting childish, immature, without adult seriousness, etc. We’ve watched children "play church"; that seems to be about what these people were doing. There are some things in which it is appropriate to act like children:  (Cf. 1 Cor. 14:20): "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." However, there are other things that make it very inappropriate to be like children. That is,  in understanding and knowledge. Paul speaks of the need to grow up (1 Cor. 13:11): "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
        (b) He shows what He means by pointing to their reaction to John’s manner of life. He came neither eating nor drinking, and they said he had a devil; yet, Jesus came eating and drinking and they charged Him with being "a gluttonous man." The two were vastly different, in this respect, and they still didn’t’ like what they saw and heard from either. Faultfinders can always find something to complain about.

2. Secondly, we find a Pharisee having Jesus for a meal in his house. The reaction and responses to that (vs. 36-50) are instructive. That is strange in and of itself, isn’t it?
        (a) While in the house of the Pharisee, however, a woman "brought an alabaster box of ointment." She stood at Jesus’ feet, washing them with her tears, wiping them with her hair and anointing him with oil. This brought on two criticisms, which Jesus answers.
        1. The "manner" of the woman being a sinner. The Pharisee  reasoned that if Jesus was a prophet, he would know her character and would not accept the honor she was showing Him. Jesus raises the question as to who loves the most — one forgiven of much or little? (vs. 42 -43)
        2. Jesus told the woman her sins were forgiven, and that caused those who sat "at meat" to raise the question "Who is this" who claims He can forgive sins also?" (V. 49)
       

 QUESTIONS:

1. What question did Jesus ask about the "generation" of His day (v. 31)?

2. What was Jesus’ conclusion concerning the "generation" of whom He was speaking (v. 32)?

3. In what way were the "generation" acting like children (vs. 33-34)?

 4. What Did Jesus say about "wisdom" (v. 35)?

 5. Who "desired" Jesus to eat with him in his "house" (v. 36)?

  6. What did a "woman" do while Jesus was in the Pharisee’s house (vs. 37--38)?

7. What did the Pharisee, who had invited,  Jesus speak "within himself" relative to Jesus (v. 39)?

 8. What question did Jesus propose to Simon (vs. 40-42)?

 9. What was Simon’s answer and Jesus’ response (vs. 43-47)?

 10. What did Jesus say to the woman and what was the people’s reaction to His claim (vs. 48-50)?

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