For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
Parallel translations
- WEB For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
- KJV For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
- NKJV For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
- NASB For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
- NLT For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John's austere lifestyle led critics to claim he was demon-possessed. They dismissed his ascetic ministry rather than repent.
Overview
John came as an ascetic, fasting and abstaining, and his opponents slandered him as having a demon. This illustrates the marketplace parable: they rejected his 'mournful' call. The verse shows how unbelief twists even holy self-denial into grounds for accusation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 3:4John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
- Luke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- John 10:20Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
- Matt 10:25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
- John 8:48The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
- Jer 15:17I never sat with the band of revelers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You have filled me with indignation.
- Hos 9:7The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
- John 7:20“You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”
- 2 Kgs 9:11When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.
- Jer 29:26‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.
- Jer 16:8–9You must not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down with them to eat and drink.
- Acts 26:24At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
- 1 Cor 9:27No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 11:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.