Justifyng the means

[on_the_hill]

We know the end does not justify the means. One cannot commit sin in order to accomplish a good outcome. Robin Hood should have gone to Confession, right?

My question is about the last line from today’s Gospel: “But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

Is there a connection? Intuitively, I get the gist but can anyone expand on it?

 

[Todd_Easton]

And wisdom is justified by her children: the best Greek manuscripts in Matthew read, “by her works;” the reading “by her children” has been taken over from Luke; but both expressions are synonymous, for “children” is a common Semitic figure for “works.” The whole expression is evidently proverbial, as shown by use of the Greek aorist tense in the sense of a universal present, the so-called “gnomic aorist.” The sense of the proverb is probably this: a wise man proves that he is wise by his actions; therefore the way the Scribes and Pharisees act proves that they are fools. (Catholic Biblical Association’s 1942 book, A Commentary on the New Testament, on Matthew 11:18f)

 

[Vico]

We know the end does not justify the means. One cannot commit sin in order to accomplish a good outcome. Robin Hood should have gone to Confession, right?

My question is about the last line from today’s Gospel: “But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

Is there a connection? Intuitively, I get the gist but can anyone expand on it?

Haydock Commentary

Ver. 19. Come eating and drinking. Whereas John came living in the wilderness on locusts, wild honey, &c. Yet most part of the Jews neither regarded Christ nor S. John: nay the Pharisees here (v. 18) say of John, that he is possessed with a devil.

— Wisdom is justified by her children. That is, by such as are truly wise; and the sense seems to be, that the divine wisdom and Providence hath been justified, i.e. approved, owned, and declared just and equitable by those that being truly wise, have made good use of the favours and graces offered them at this time of their redemption, when others have remained obstinate in their blindness, and refused to believe in Christ. Wi.

— That is, the multitude of believers by their faith justify the providence and justice of God, against the calumnies of the wicked; for as these believed, what hindered others also from believing? where it appears that Divine Providence omitted nothing of those things, which were necessary to procure and promote the salvation of men. M.

Wi. Robert Witham (1667–1738)
M. Giovanni Steffano Menochius (1576-1655)

 

[Gorgias]

We know the end does not justify the means. One cannot commit sin in order to accomplish a good outcome. Robin Hood should have gone to Confession, right?

My question is about the last line from today’s Gospel: “But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

I think it’s more “the proof is in the pudding” than it is “the ends justify the means.”

Jesus is telling folks that they thought John was too excessively austere, but that Jesus is too excessively ebullient. He’s telling them that they’re saying that they know better than God. And, He’s telling them, "don’t worry… in the end, we’ll compare notes, and we’ll see who’s right. " (And yes, I mean that Jesus is winking at them…! )