Jesus refers to John’s complete abstinence from ordinary food and drink (bread and wine, Luke 1:15, Luke 7:33) and his living on locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6). This way of life led the people to call him insane and demon-possessed. The leaders refused to accept him in his signs of, and ministry of, repentance (Matthew 3:7–10; John 1:19–28), and yet afterwards, they suddenly demanded mourning.
Jesus here refers to John’s complete abstinence, as he refrained from ordinary food and drink (bread and wine, Luke 1:15,Luke 7:33) and instead lived on locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6). This way of life led the people to brand him as insane and even associate him with demonic possession.1
When John appeared as a prophet of repentance—living on locusts and wild honey—they accused him of being possessed by a demon. As a result, the leaders refused to accept him (Matthew 3:7–10; John 1:19–28), and yet afterwards, they suddenly demanded mourning.2
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’