Luke 7:31

Luke 7:31, in plain English

Then Jesus asked, 'What can I compare the people of this generation to? What are they really like?'

Why it's here

Jesus is about to expose the absurd inconsistency of people who rejected both John's austerity and Jesus' joy. Nothing was ever good enough.

Who's speaking

Jesus introduces a pointed comparison about the people of His generation.

Where it sits in the story

Sometimes people don't want truth in any form. If it's serious, it's too gloomy. If it's joyful, it's too casual. Jesus calls out that pattern because it prevents real encounter with God.

The scholarly reading

Jesus poses a comparative question: tini oun homoiōsō tous anthrōpous tēs geneas tautēs ("To what shall I compare the people of this generation?") — introducing a parable about the generation's spiritual obstinance.

Language and setting

The phrase 'this generation' (hē genea hautē) carries negative connotations throughout Luke, designating those who reject God's messengers despite clear evidence.

Voice

Jesus introduces a parable about the spiritual character of His contemporaries.

Significance

Jesus shifts from praising John to critiquing the generation that rejected both John and Himself. The comparison parable will expose their inconsistency.

29All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

31“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?

32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

Read all of Luke 7 — A Roman centurion's faith astonishes Jesus, a widow's dead son is raised, and a sinful woman's tears become an act of worship.