Three views of what it means that wisdom is justified by her deeds:
Wisdom
means both God and his redemptive plan (see Luke 7:29–30, Luke 7:35)—the plan guiding John and Jesus. This plan, rejected by this generation, would be accepted by their children (see Luke 7:29).Wisdom is vindicated through, in some manuscripts, its own works—the entire ministry of John and Jesus—but most manuscripts say that wisdom is vindicated through its children: all who are reborn through John’s preaching and Jesus’ appearing. The new birth of the children of the kingdom, who by faith will be greater in the kingdom than even John was on earth (Matthew 11:11), is proof of the work of Elijah and the Angel of the Lord (Matthew 11:14, Matthew 11:10). This shows that their labour is truly the saving wisdom of God.
God’s wisdom, which sent John and then Jesus, proved to be true, because its works—the great expansion of the kingdom of heaven—justifies it.
Interpretation 1:
Wisdom
is a means of describing both God and his redemptive plan (see Luke 7:29–30, Luke 7:35)—the plan by which John the Baptist and Jesus were led. This redemptive plan of God is rejected by this generation, even if their children, as believers, eventually recognized it as just (see Luke 7:29).1
Interpretation 2:
Despite attacks and criticism, wisdom is nevertheless vindicated and accepted. How? According to some manuscripts, through its own works—that is, through the entire ministry of John and Jesus. According to most manuscripts, however, wisdom is vindicated through its children—namely, all who are reborn through John’s preaching and Jesus’ appearing. The new birth of the children of the kingdom, who by faith will be greater in that kingdom than even John was on earth (Matthew 11:11), is itself sufficient proof of the work of Elijah and the Angel of the Lord (Matthew 11:14, Matthew 11:10). This demonstrates that their labour is truly the saving wisdom of God.2
Interpretation 3:
Wisdom—that is, divine wisdom—first sent John and then Jesus. This wisdom proved to be true, because its works, that is, the results it brought about, justifies it. It produced a great expansion of the kingdom of heaven.3
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.