Matthew 11:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The children's complaint: neither joyful music nor a mournful dirge could move their unwilling companions.
What Does Matthew 11:17 Mean?
The complaining children continue: "we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented." They played wedding music, and no one danced; they played a funeral dirge, and no one wept. Neither celebration nor sorrow drew a response. The two tunes set up the next verses, where John's austerity and Jesus' warmth are both rejected.
The picture lays bare a heart determined not to be reached. Joy is met with indifference, grief with coldness; no approach of God satisfies the closed soul. The danger is a spirit so set on refusing that it grows deaf to every melody of grace. God comes in many keys -- sometimes calling us to rejoice, sometimes to mourn. The faithful heart answers the music; it does not sit unmoved on the sidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 11:17
What does Matthew 11:17 mean?
The children's complaint: neither joyful music nor a mournful dirge could move their unwilling companions.