Matthew 11:17

“And saying, we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced, etc.] The allusion is to Jewish children, who having seen their parents and friends at their festivals and weddings, some play upon the pipe, and others dance to them, mimicked the same in their diversions; and also having observed, at funerals, the mourning women, making their doleful ditties, and others answering to them, acted the part of these persons, expecting their fellows would make their responses, but did not: hence the complaint, we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. The different characters of John and Christ, are here set forth, by “piping” and “mourning”. The character and ministry of Christ and his…”

“But whereunto shall I liken ... - Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of people. He says they were like children - nothing pleased them. He refers here to the “plays” or “sports” of children. Instrumental music, or piping and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals as a sign of joy. See the notes at Isaiah 5:11-12. Compare Job 21:11; 2 Samuel 6:14; Judges 11:34; Luke 15:25. Children imitate their parents and others, and act over in play what they see done by others. Among their childish sports, therefore, was probably an imitation of a wedding or festal occasion. We have seen also (the notes at Matthew 9:23) that funerals were attended with mournful…”

“We: Isa 28:9-13; Co1 9:19-23 piped: Mat 9:15, Mat 9:23; Kg1 1:40; Isa 30:29; Jer 9:17-20, Jer 31:4; Luk 15:25 Matthew 11:18”