John’s ascetic lifestyle offended people, yet when Jesus eats and drinks freely, they call him a glutton and a drunkard—like a rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 23:20–21), who must be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:21). The Pharisees see Jesus as sinful for drinking with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:30;Luke 15:2; Luke 19:7). This generation accepts neither John’s call to repentance or Jesus’ message of joy.
When John the Baptist refrained from ordinary food and drink, the people took offence, and yet when Jesus’ ate and drank freely, they proceeded to call him a glutton and a drunkard. These words recall the behavior of the rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 23:20–21), who had to be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:21). Even by Pharisaic standards Jesus was regarded as an apostate, since he ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:30;Luke 15:2; Luke 19:7).1
In contrast to John the Baptist, Jesus comes not as an ascetic, but freely shares meals with wealthy tax collectors, and yet now they turn his festive fellowship into grounds for accusation against him, reviling him as a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners. This generation refuses to accept either John’s call to repentance or Jesus’ message of joy. Instead, they demand that both conform to their own shifting desires.2
19 Le Fils de l'homme est venu, mangeant et buvant, et ils disent: C'est un mangeur et un buveur, un ami des publicains et des gens de mauvaise vie. Mais la sagesse a été justifiée par ses œuvres.