Luke 7:33

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 7:33 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.
Luke 7:33 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
33For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For John the Baptist, etc.] Who is designed by the children that mourned in the above simile, with whom his character and conduct agree; he preached very mournful doctrine, delivered it in a very solemn and awful manner, and lived a very austere life, and fasted much, as did also his disciples. The word “Baptist” is here added by Luke, which Matthew has not, to distinguish him from others; and it may be, because he had just spoke of his baptism. The Persic version only reads, “the Baptist”; of him our Lord says, that he came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; which were the common food and drink of men, but his diet were locusts and wild honey, and from this he often abstained; nor…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this passage explained in Matthew 11:2-19. Luke 7:29 The people - The common people. That heard him - That heard “John.” The publicans - The tax-gatherers, the worst kind of people, who had, however, been converted. Justified God - Considered God as “just” or “right” in the counsel which he gave by John - to wit, in calling people to repentance, and in denouncing future wrath on the impenitent. Compare Matthew 11:19. Being baptized ... - They “showed” that they approved of the message of God by submitting to the ordinance which he commanded - the ordinance of baptism. This verse and the following are not to be considered as the words of “Luke,” but the continuation of the discourse of…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:33 John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine: John lived an ascetic’s life of self-denial, appropriate to his prophetic role of announcing God’s Kingdom, the coming judgment, and the need for repentance and cleansing.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“came: Luk 1:15; Jer 16:8-10; Mat 3:4; Mar 1:6 He: Mat 10:25; Joh 8:48, Joh 8:52, Joh 10:20; Act 2:13 Luke 7:34”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification