Luke 7:33 Meaning and Explanation
“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →John's austerity was dismissed with the charge that he had a devil.
What Does Luke 7:33 Mean?
Jesus applies the parable. John came as the ascetic — fasting in the wilderness, neither eating bread nor drinking wine — the mournful dirge calling for repentance. The verdict of his critics: "He hath a devil." His seriousness was written off as madness.
Slander is unbelief's shortcut: discredit the messenger and the message need never be faced. John's rigorous holiness should at least have commanded respect; instead it was explained away as something dark. The verse exposes how a resistant heart re-narrates whatever confronts it. Those who will not repent rarely say so plainly — they find something wrong with everyone who calls them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 7:33
What does Luke 7:33 mean?
John's austerity was dismissed with the charge that he had a devil.