Luke 11:29

¶ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

And {G1161} when the people {G3793} were gathered thick together {G1865}, he began {G756} to say {G3004}, This {G3778} is {G2076} an evil {G4190} generation {G1074}: they seek {G1934} a sign {G4592}; and {G2532} there shall {G1325} no {G3756} sign {G4592} be given {G1325} it {G846}, but {G1508} the sign {G4592} of Jonas {G2495} the prophet {G4396}.

As the people crowded around him, Yeshua went on to say, “This generation is a wicked generation! It asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it — except the sign of Yonah.

As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.

Luke 11:29 presents Jesus' stern rebuke to a crowd demanding miraculous signs, declaring them an "evil generation" and pointing to the sign of Jonah as the only one they would receive. This passage underscores Jesus' frustration with those who sought spectacle over genuine faith and repentance.

Context

This declaration by Jesus follows a series of confrontations where He had just cast out a demon, leading some to accuse Him of doing so by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils (Luke 11:15). Others, likely scribes and Pharisees, were specifically "tempting him, requiring of him a sign from heaven" (Luke 11:16). Though the immediate context in Luke 11:29 mentions "the people were gathered thick together," it's clear this was a response to a persistent demand for a definitive, undeniable supernatural display beyond the miracles He already performed, which they dismissed or attributed to evil.

Key Themes

  • Demand for Signs vs. True Faith: Jesus condemns the generation's insatiable desire for signs, implying a lack of faith in His person and teaching. They had witnessed countless miracles, yet still demanded more, demonstrating a hardened heart.
  • The "Evil Generation": Jesus labels them "evil" not just for their actions but for their spiritual blindness and unwillingness to believe based on the evidence presented. This spiritual corruption leads them to reject divine truth.
  • The Sign of Jonas (Jonah): This is the singular sign Jesus promises. It points directly to the prophet Jonah's experience of being three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish (Jonah 1:17) and his subsequent emergence to preach repentance to Nineveh. For Jesus, this foreshadowed His own death, burial, and resurrection on the third day, the ultimate and undeniable sign of His divine authority and saving power. Unlike other signs, this one would be given after His departure.
  • Repentance and Judgment: The comparison with Nineveh (mentioned in subsequent verses like Luke 11:32) highlights that even pagan Nineveh repented at Jonah's preaching, whereas this generation, witnessing someone "greater than Jonah," refused to repent. This sets the stage for future judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "evil generation" (Greek: genea ponera) signifies a deep moral and spiritual depravity. It's not merely about individual sins but a collective disposition of wickedness and opposition to God's will. Their "seeking a sign" (Greek: semeion zeteo) was not an honest search for truth but a demand for proof on their own terms, often with a spirit of testing or trapping Jesus, rather than a humble openness to revelation.

Practical Application

Luke 11:29 serves as a timeless reminder that true faith does not constantly demand new proofs or sensational displays. The definitive sign given to humanity is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For us today, the call is to believe in the finished work of Christ, repent of our sins, and live by faith, rather than seeking external validation or waiting for another "sign." The transformative power of the Gospel and the witness of the Holy Spirit are sufficient for those with a receptive heart. This verse challenges us to examine the basis of our own faith: Is it rooted in genuine conviction and trust, or a desire for constant validation?

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 11:16

    And others, tempting [him], sought of him a sign from heaven.

  • Mark 8:11

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

  • Mark 8:12

    And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

  • Matthew 12:38

    ¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

  • Matthew 12:42

    The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:22

    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

  • Luke 12:1

    ¶ In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back