The phrase “wisdom is justified by her children” comes from Matthew 11:19, where Jesus says: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
To understand what Jesus means here, we need to look at the context. In Matthew 11, John the Baptist, who is in prison, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is truly the Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to the miracles he has performed as evidence that he is the Messiah. He then begins to condemn the unbelieving cities where he did miracles but they still refused to repent. Jesus says it will be more tolerable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for these cities, because Sodom would have repented if they saw Jesus’ miracles.
Jesus then thanks God that he has hidden the mysteries of the kingdom from the wise and learned, but revealed them to “little children” – those with childlike faith. This leads into Jesus’ statement about wisdom being justified by her children.
The context shows that Jesus is contrasting true, godly wisdom with worldly wisdom. The religious leaders of the day, who were educated and sophisticated, rejected Jesus and accused him of being a glutton and drunkard because he associated with sinners. They thought themselves wise, but refused to acknowledge God’s wisdom revealed through Christ.
On the other hand, those who exercised simple, childlike faith in Christ demonstrated that they were truly wise. Their faith in Him was evidence that they understood God’s wisdom. As Jesus says in Luke 7:35: “Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” The true children of wisdom are those who recognize and embrace the Wisdom of God revealed in Jesus.
So in Matthew 11:19, Jesus is saying that godly wisdom is ultimately proven right and justified, not by sophisticated arguments, but by those who respond to it in faith. The lives of those who trust in Christ demonstrate the wisdom of the gospel message.
Some key points about what it means for wisdom to be justified by her children:
- True wisdom comes from God, not human intelligence or education.
- God’s wisdom centers on Christ crucified, which seems foolish to the world (1 Cor 1:18-25).
- Those who have faith in Christ show themselves to be children of wisdom.
- The evidence of wisdom’s rightness is the fruit it produces in people’s hearts and lives.
- Faith in Christ demonstrates the wisdom of the gospel message.
- Simple, childlike faith often grasps God’s wisdom better than sophisticated human wisdom.
In summary, wisdom is justified or proven right by those who believe in Christ and follow Him. Their lives and their fruit demonstrate the truth and wisdom of the gospel. The world may reject the message of the cross as foolishness, but those who trust in Christ prove it to be the very wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:18).
1. The context of Jesus’ statement
Jesus spoke the words “wisdom is justified by her children” in the context of questioning by John the Baptist and condemnation of unbelieving cities (Matthew 11:1-24). John was in prison and sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus pointed to his miracles as evidence. He condemned cities where he did miracles but they still refused to repent, saying it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for them. Jesus then praised God for hiding truth from the “wise” but revealing it to “little children.” This leads to his statement about wisdom being proved right by its results in people’s lives.
2. Wisdom referring to the wisdom of God revealed in Christ
When Jesus speaks of “wisdom” in this passage, he is not referring to human wisdom or intelligence. Rather, it is the wisdom of God revealed in Christ and the gospel message. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 explains that the message of Christ crucified is “folly to Gentiles” and a “stumbling block” to Jews. But to those who are called it is both the “power of God” and the “wisdom of God.” God’s wisdom is supremely demonstrated in the atoning death of Christ for sinners.
3. The children of wisdom are those who have faith in Christ
Those who respond in faith to the wisdom of God revealed in the gospel message show themselves to be “children of wisdom.” Jesus said that God has hidden truth from the “wise and understanding” but revealed it to “little children” – those with simple, childlike faith (Matt 11:25). It is those who trust in Christ, not the supposedly wise and learned of this world, who recognize true wisdom. Faith in Christ shows an understanding of God’s wisdom.
4. Wisdom is justified by the fruit it produces
Wisdom is “justified by her children” in the sense that it is proved right and shown to be true wisdom based on the results it produces in people’s lives. The proof of wisdom is its fruit. Just as you can know a tree by its fruit, you can know whether something is true wisdom from God based on the fruit it produces in the lives of those who accept it. Godly wisdom produces good fruit like love, joy, peace, righteousness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). The lives of those who embrace wisdom give evidence of its truth.
5. The evidence of wisdom’s rightness is seen in the lives of Christ’s followers
Those who have trusted in Christ for salvation show the wisdom of the gospel message by their lives. Their faith in Him and the resulting transformation in their values, priorities, and behavior demonstrate the wisdom of God’s plan of redemption. Their Christlike character gives proof of the rightness and truth of the wisdom that produced such fruit in them – the wisdom of God revealed in the crucified Savior.
6. Simple faith grasps God’s wisdom better than human wisdom
In Matthew 11, Jesus highlights that God has hidden His wisdom from the supposedly brilliant and learned, but revealed it to those with simple, childlike faith. Human wisdom apart from God often blinds people to the truth and wisdom of God revealed in Christ crucified. Great knowledge and education does not guarantee an understanding of spiritual truth. Simple, humble faith in Christ demonstrates more genuine wisdom than sophisticated human philosophies.
7. The wisdom in salvation through Christ alone
The way of salvation through faith in Christ alone seems foolish to the world, but provides great wisdom. Humans tend to think they must earn salvation through their good works. But the wisdom of God provides salvation as a free gift of grace, received when sinners repent and trust in Christ. This humbles human pride. The world may scoff but those who believe demonstrate that such gospel wisdom produces good fruit in changed lives. The wise response is to accept God’s wisdom shown in providing salvation through Christ alone.
8. The importance of spiritual wisdom over worldly wisdom
True wisdom comes from God and His Word, not merely human education or intelligence. Worldly wisdom focuses on prestige, riches, achievements, and appearing sophisticated. But godly wisdom values humility, faith, righteousness, and purity of heart. Scripture exalts spiritual wisdom over worldly wisdom (1 Cor 1-2, James 3:13-18). The children of wisdom are those who forsake worldly wisdom to live according to God’s wisdom, revealed by the Spirit through the Word.
9. Wisdom displayed in the paradoxes of the Christian faith
To the world, many aspects of the Christian faith seem paradoxical or foolish. Victory comes through death on a cross. The first shall be last. Living comes through dying to self. Strength is perfected in weakness. Wisdom is demonstrated by embracing such paradoxes, trusting God’s ways over human wisdom. The children of wisdom submit to these truths, demonstrating their faith in God’s wisdom which seems foolish to the world.
10. The importance of childlike faith and humility
Jesus emphasized the importance of childlike faith and humility. Children recognize their dependence and trust loving authorities. Likewise, becoming God’s children requires humble faith in Christ, not proud dependence on our own wisdom. The wise of this world often stumble due to pride in human wisdom. But childlike humility embraces the gospel and demonstrates true wisdom. Simple, sincere faith shows the wisdom of depending fully on Christ rather than one’s own understanding.
11. Wisdom applied by living according to God’s ways
Wisdom is proved genuine when it changes how people live. The children of wisdom apply it to life, walking in righteousness, love, and truth. They obey Christ’s commands, turn from sin, and trust God in all things. True wisdom is lived out in sacrificial love, moral courage, and spiritual integrity. Wise living flows from trusting God’s wisdom rather than following cultural trends. Wisdom produces good fruit when applied to speech, actions, attitudes, priorities, values, and relationships.
12. The wisdom of God’s ways above man’s ways
God’s wisdom is higher than man’s wisdom (Isaiah 55:8-9). His ways often contradict human thinking. The cross confounds human wisdom but exhibits divine wisdom. God’s wisdom calls on the strong to serve the weak, the rich to give generously, the wise to be humble, the first to be last. His wisdom values meekness, sacrifice, mercy, and righteousness more than power, riches, vengeance, and pride. To embrace God’s higher wisdom requires faith and humility. The children of wisdom submit to God’s higher ways rather than relying on their own thinking.
13. Wise living amid earthly trials and suffering
God’s wisdom enables believers to navigate trials righteously. Scripture offers wise principles for times of suffering and persecution – righteousness, patience, joy, courage, integrity. God’s wisdom brings contentment amid hardships through eternal perspective and spiritual riches in Christ. By faithfully enduring trials according to God’s wisdom, believers testify to the surpassing worth of following Christ. Their wise living amid adversity shows the wisdom of walking godly in this fallen world.
14. Faith during times when God’s ways are unclear
Wisdom is demonstrated by trusting God even when His ways are mysterious. His wisdom is beyond human understanding. The wise walk by faith not sight (2 Cor 5:7). They trust God’s wisdom and goodness during confusing trials or unanswered prayers. True children of wisdom keep believing through the darkness. They know God remains wise and good even when they cannot grasp His ways. This kind of persevering faith justifies wisdom by showing its worth even in the unclear times.
15. The wisdom of fearing the Lord
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). Revering and respecting God is essential for true wisdom. Children of wisdom value God above all else. They desire to please and glorify Him. Wisdom applies God’s truth to life – being honest, kind, sexual purity, forgiving others, prayer, worship. Wise living flows from a heart that fears God and understands our purpose is for His glory. All other supposed wisdom falls short without rightly fearing the Lord.
16. Growth in wisdom over time
Wisdom develops over time as believers walk with Christ. They increasingly gain His mindset, values, priorities, and responses. Wisdoms’ children demonstrate its growth by having more spiritual fruit, godly character, and wise living as they mature. Young believers must grow in wisdom, not remain childish in understanding (1 Cor 14:20). Maturing in Christlike wisdom justifies its truth. The wise instruction of Scripture produces wise living so that “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man” (Matt 7:24).
17. Wisdom passed on to future generations
Wisdom produces enduring fruit when passed on to others, especially the next generation. As Psalm 78:4 says, “we will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.” Parents must instruct children in God’s wisdom found in Scripture so they embrace the gospel. Wise teaching inspires wise living in others. When believers use God’s wisdom to invest well in others, it yields a lasting harvest of righteousness that continues to justify divine wisdom.
18. The wisdom of following Christ above all else
True wisdom recognizes Christ as supreme over all. The children of wisdom build their lives on obedience to Him. He is their joy, hope, security, satisfaction, and salvation. They forsake worldly wisdom that leaves out Christ. Eternal life is to know God through Jesus Christ (John 17:3). The highest wisdom seeks intimacy with Christ, fellowship with Him, living for Him. Following Jesus proves the unsurpassed worth of knowing Him. All other pursuits are foolish in comparison. His disciples evidence wisdom by taking up their cross and living totally for Christ.
19. Wisdom proven by persevering faithfulness to Christ
Continuing to walk faithfully with Christ to the end demonstrates wisdom. His followers are called blessed when they persevere under trial (James 1:12). Finishing the race gives evidence of genuine faith and spiritual maturity. Forsaking Christ shows foolishness and unbelief. But staying faithful to Him through all of life justifies wisdom. Persevering obedience, even through hardship, sacrifice, or suffering, proves the worth of living by God’s wisdom. Enduring to the end in wisdom shows Christ is worth any cost and suffering.
20. Heavenly reward as the ultimate proof of wisdom
In eternity, the full evidence of wisdom will be revealed. The children of wisdom persevere in righteous living because they know Christ and desire the reward of hearing “well done.” Their eternal inheritance – perfect fellowship with God – justifies the worth of God’s wisdom. Temporary suffering on earth is nothing compared to eternal joy in God’s presence. Living for heaven proves that relying on God’s eternal wisdom, rather than temporal pleasures, was supremely wise. Full justification comes when believers receive their eternal reward and enter into the infinite joy of life with God forever.