who are sitting in market places and who are calling to each other saying. “We piped to you and you did not dance. We lamented and you did not mourn” For John did not come either eating or drinking and they say

“He has a demon.” The Son of man came both eating and drinking and they say “Behold a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners.” Indeed wisdom is justified from her works." (Note: Text is mainly a paraphrase of the Literal translation in the RSV Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 1988)

In terms of the “kingdom of heaven” being a balance between a society based on time (law) and a society based on place (order) there is relevance in the discussions above. Jesus recapitulates on the efforts made by people over the centuries to set up a society which will provide a secure environment. In doing so they have tried to use force to achieve this e.g. in the imposition of law or the imposition of order. Inevitably these two are tied together. But the gospels demonstrate that they also are separate entities and either one can be over-stressed. Over-stress is not likely to work as each of them has intrinsic weaknesses and needs to be balanced out by the other. Matthew presents Jesus' mention of the presence of Wisdom which produces an environment of internalised law which in turn leads into balanced order.

2 Excuses

11:20-24

... More tolerable for Sodom

11:20 - 24 Then he began to reproach the cities in which many of his powerful deeds had been performed because they did not repent. “Woe to you Chorazin. Woe to you Bethsaida. If the powerful deeds which had happened in your cities had happened in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago. However I tell you. It will be more tolerable for

Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you Capernaum. Have you not been exalted as far as heaven? So you shall descend as far as Hades. If the powerful deeds which have happened in you had happened in Sodom it would have remained until the present time. However I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

3 Relieves

11:25-30

.. Yoke is easy

11:25-30 At that time Jesus answered someone saying. “I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. Yes Father such was your good pleasure. Everything was delivered by my Father and nobody fully knows the Son except the

Father. Neither does anyone fully know the father except the Son and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal him. Come to me all those who are labour and have been burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am meek and lowly in heart and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is gentle and my burden light