Homoia estin, which the ESV renders as it is like,
is a typical Aramaic way of comparing two situations (see Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 13:52), so it applies to both Matthew 11:16 and Matthew 11:17.
Here are three views of what it means to be like children sitting in the marketplaces:
The children calling to their playmates are speaking of a song sung in sequence as part of a game. While Matthew 11:18–19 does contrast how John the Baptist and Jesus carried out their ministry, this parable portrays the Jewish people’s refusal to accept the Word of God in faith, no matter what God does.
The children were likely acting out a wedding or a funeral. Similarly, the Jews wanted the ascetic John, Jesus’ herald, to dance, and wanted him who brought the good news to cry (see Matthew 11:18–19a).
Jesus’ analogy in Matthew 11:16–19a likens the people to children playing in the marketplace. Note that the children are
sitting
(in judgment), even though children in a marketplace would normally be running about. Their behavior is seen in their call to each other—We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn
(Matthew 11:17)—so this generation is like those children, who call out, yet are dissatisfied, complaining that neither John nor Jesus meets their expectations. In this way God’s kingdom is pressured and attacked (see Matthew 11:12). The time of fulfillment (Matthew 11:13–14) will thus pass this generation by. They want to set the tone (Matthew 11:17), yet do not heed either the prophet or the Angel of the Lord (Matthew 11:15).
Homoia estin, which the ESV translates as it is like,
must not be taken in the strict sense, as if this generation
could only be compared with the first group of children, but must rather be understood as a typical Aramaic way of comparing two situations (see Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 13:52). It therefore applies to both Matthew 11:16 and Matthew 11:17.1
Interpretation 1:
The whole generation—not Jesus or John alone—is compared to children calling to their playmates, and the parallel verse indicates that the calling referred to here was a song sung in sequence as part of a particular game. While it is true that Matthew 11:18–19 speaks about the manner in which John the Baptist and Jesus carried out their ministry, this parable is nevertheless best explained by assuming that Jesus intended to portray the Jewish people in it. In spite of God’s faithfulness, the people always act immorally and respond erroneously; for they refuse to accept the Word of God in faith, but follow their own way, remaining unmoved no matter what God does. It is not impossible that the difference in conduct between Jesus and John the Baptist is what gave rise to the image of the children’s game in the first place. Even though this is not expressed in the parable itself, the manner of Jesus’ ministry differed greatly from that of the Baptist, and Jesus must have wanted to highlight this contrast in order to confront the people with their sin.2
Interpretation 2:
The parable Jesus employs here in Matthew 11:16–17 speaks of a group of children on the marketplace, who call upon their friends to play a particular game. It most likely entailed acting out a wedding ceremony or a funeral. This is an image of the Jews who wanted to force the ascetic John, the herald of Jesus, to dance, and make him who brought the good news cry (see Matthew 11:18–19a).3
Interpretation 3:
With a general characterization (with the demarcation appearing in Matthew 11:19b), Jesus likens the Jewish people to children playing in the marketplace—rather than in the narrow eastern streets. Strikingly, he describes them as sitting
children, even though children in a marketplace would normally be running about. Their behavior is evident in what they call to each other: We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn
(Matthew 11:17). In other words, this generation is like those children—calling out, yet still dissatisfied. They complain that neither John nor Jesus will conform to their expectations. In this way God’s kingdom is pressured and attacked (see Matthew 11:12). As such, this generation fails to recognize the time of fulfillment for what it is (see Matthew 11:13–14), so it passes this generation by. They want to set the tone (Matthew 11:17), yet refuse to listen to either the prophet or the Angel of the Lord(Matthew 11:15). With this image and explanation, Jesus shows that this generation judges both him and his herald harshly. Instead of moving forward, they remain stuck in their accusations.4
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,