Luke 7:31

KJV

And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} the Lord {G2962} said {G2036}, Whereunto {G5101} then {G3767} shall I liken {G3666} the men {G444} of this {G5026} generation {G1074}? and {G2532} to what {G5101} are they {G1526} like {G3664}?

Complete Jewish Bible

"Therefore," said the Lord, "how can I describe the people of this generation? What are they like?

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Luke 7:31, Jesus poses a profound rhetorical question, lamenting the spiritual inconsistency and stubborn resistance of "this generation" to God's divine messengers. This pivotal inquiry sets the stage for His subsequent parable, which illustrates the unreasonableness of those who found fault with both the austere message of John the Baptist and Jesus's more accessible approach to proclaiming the kingdom of God, highlighting their unwillingness to respond to God's call regardless of its presentation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") serves as a critical transition within Luke's Gospel, immediately following Jesus's discourse on the identity and significance of [John the Baptist](/luke/7-24-28 "Luke 7:24-28 - Jesus' Praise for John the Baptist"). Jesus has just affirmed John as "more than a prophet" and the one who prepared the way for the Messiah. The preceding verses ([Luke 7:29-30](/luke/7-29-30 "Luke 7:29-30 - Responses to John's Baptism")) highlight a stark contrast in responses to John's ministry: tax collectors and ordinary people "justified God" by accepting John's baptism, while the Pharisees and lawyers "rejected God's purpose for themselves" by refusing it. Jesus's rhetorical question in verse 31 directly addresses this paradoxical and resistant attitude, setting up the parable of the children in the marketplace ([Luke 7:32-35](/luke/7-32-35 "Luke 7:32-35 - The Parable of the Children in the Marketplace")), which further illustrates the spiritual immaturity and obstinacy of those who would neither mourn with John nor rejoice with Jesus.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was a complex religious and political landscape, marked by diverse Jewish sects (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes) and Roman occupation. The Jewish people held varied expectations for the Messiah, often anticipating a political deliverer rather than a suffering servant. John the Baptist emerged as a prophetic figure, preaching repentance and baptism in the wilderness, embodying the ascetic prophet archetype reminiscent of Elijah. Jesus, in contrast, engaged more directly with society, eating with "sinners" and tax collectors, and proclaiming the kingdom through teaching and miracles. The "men of this generation" refers to the contemporary Jewish populace, particularly the religious leaders, who witnessed both John's rigorous call to repentance and Jesus's compassionate invitation to the kingdom. Their resistance stemmed from a combination of pride, misinterpretation of prophecy, and a desire to maintain their established religious authority and traditions, leading them to reject both divine messengers who did not conform to their preconceived notions.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") encapsulates several profound themes central to Luke's narrative and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Spiritual Indifference and Inconsistency**, where people exhibit a stubborn refusal to respond positively to God's call, regardless of the messenger or method. They are portrayed as having a critical spirit, quick to find fault with both John's asceticism ("He has a demon!") and Jesus's more inclusive approach ("a glutton and a drunkard!"). This highlights a pervasive **Lack of Discernment**, an inability to recognize and embrace divine truth when it is presented, even when accompanied by powerful signs and teachings. Instead of seeking understanding or repentance, they resort to criticism and justification of their unbelief. Although not explicitly stated in this verse, it foreshadows the theme of **Divine Wisdom's Justification**, which is explicitly stated in [Luke 7:35](/luke/7-35 "Luke 7:35 - Wisdom Justified by Her Children"). This implies that despite widespread rejection, God's wisdom, embodied in both John and Jesus, will ultimately be affirmed and vindicated by those who truly accept and live by it, revealing the true "children of wisdom."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** From G2962, meaning "supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)." In this context, "the Lord" refers to Jesus, emphasizing His divine authority and sovereign perspective as He observes and critiques the spiritual state of His contemporaries. It underscores that His question is not one of genuine perplexity, but a divinely authoritative observation and lament.
* **liken (Greek, _homoióō'_):** From G3666, meaning "to assimilate, i.e. compare; passively, to become similar." This verb highlights Jesus's teaching method of using parables and comparisons to reveal spiritual truths and human conditions. It signifies His intent to draw an analogy that will expose the illogical and resistant behavior of "this generation," forcing them to confront their own spiritual stubbornness.
* **generation (Greek, _geneá'_):** From G1074, meaning "a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons)." Here, "this generation" refers specifically to the contemporary Jewish people who were eyewitnesses to the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. It denotes a particular group characterized by their shared experience of divine revelation and their collective, largely negative, response to it, embodying a pattern of spiritual resistance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the Lord said":** This opening phrase establishes Jesus as the speaker, emphasizing His divine authority and insight. The use of "Lord" (κύριος, _kýrios_) here, rather than simply "Jesus," elevates the statement to one of profound theological weight, coming from the Master who fully comprehends the human heart and its resistance to God.
* **"Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation?":** This is a rhetorical question, not seeking information but expressing exasperation and setting the stage for a critical comparison. Jesus is lamenting the spiritual inconsistency and stubbornness of His contemporaries. The phrase "the men of this generation" refers to the people of that specific era who witnessed both John's and Jesus's ministries, yet remained largely unresponsive or critical.
* **"and to what are they like?":** This second part of the rhetorical question intensifies the first, reiterating the challenge to find an appropriate comparison for their behavior. It underscores the perplexing and illogical nature of their rejection, highlighting their spiritual immaturity and unwillingness to be pleased or persuaded by divine truth, regardless of its form.

#### Literary Devices
[Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, where Jesus asks a question not to elicit an answer, but to make a point and provoke thought. This technique draws the listeners into self-reflection, forcing them to consider the absurd inconsistency of their own attitudes. The verse also serves as a direct setup for an **Analogy** or **Parable**, immediately preceding the parable of the children in the marketplace. Jesus's question explicitly asks "Whereunto shall I liken," signaling His intention to use a comparison to illuminate their spiritual state. There is also an element of **Irony** present; the very people who claim to be spiritually discerning and righteous are revealed as childishly petulant and resistant to God's messengers, regardless of their approach. This highlights the ironic contrast between their self-perception and their actual spiritual condition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") serves as a poignant theological statement about humanity's persistent resistance to God's overtures. It reveals a pattern of spiritual stubbornness where individuals, particularly those entrenched in religious self-righteousness, refuse to acknowledge divine truth when it challenges their preconceived notions or comfortable traditions. Jesus's lament underscores that God's wisdom, manifested through diverse messengers and methods—from John's austere call to repentance to Jesus's gracious invitation to the kingdom—is consistently met with skepticism, criticism, and rejection by those unwilling to humble themselves. This verse, therefore, highlights the critical importance of spiritual receptivity and discernment, warning against the dangers of a fault-finding spirit that ultimately rejects God's saving purpose.

* [Luke 7:32-35](/luke/7-32-35 "The Parable of the Children in the Marketplace")
* [Matthew 11:16-19](/matthew/11-16-19 "Parallel Account of Jesus' Rebuke")
* [Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Stephen's Rebuke of the Stubborn Generation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") challenges us to critically examine our own spiritual posture and receptivity to God's truth. Just as "this generation" found reasons to reject both John the Baptist and Jesus, we too can fall into the trap of spiritual inconsistency, resisting God's voice when it comes in unexpected forms or through messengers we don't prefer. This verse calls us to guard against a critical, fault-finding spirit that prioritizes our own comfort or preconceived notions over humble submission to God's will. True spiritual maturity involves cultivating a heart that is open and discerning, willing to hear and respond to God's truth, whether it comes through a challenging prophetic word or a gentle invitation to grace. It reminds us that God's wisdom will always be vindicated by those who, like "her children" ([Luke 7:35](/luke/7-35 "Luke 7:35 - Wisdom Justified by Her Children")), genuinely embrace and live by it, rather than seeking excuses for unbelief.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be like "this generation," finding reasons to resist God's truth when it challenges my comfort or expectations?**
* **Am I more prone to a critical spirit or a spirit of humble receptivity when encountering different expressions of faith or challenging biblical teachings?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater openness to God's voice, even when it comes in unexpected forms or through unconventional messengers?**

### FAQ
**Who are "the men of this generation" that Jesus refers to?**

Answer: "The men of this generation" refers primarily to the contemporary Jewish people of Jesus's time, particularly those who witnessed the ministries of both John the Baptist and Jesus. While it can encompass the general populace, Jesus's critique is often directed at the religious leaders—the Pharisees and lawyers—who, despite their religious devotion, consistently rejected God's purpose for them as revealed through John's baptism and Jesus's teachings. They represent a specific group characterized by their spiritual stubbornness and inability to discern God's work, regardless of how it was presented, as illustrated in the preceding verses [Luke 7:29-30](/luke/7-29-30 "Luke 7:29-30 - Responses to John's Baptism").

**Why does Jesus use a rhetorical question in [Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation")?**

Answer: Jesus uses a rhetorical question not because He is genuinely seeking an answer, but to express His profound frustration and disappointment with the spiritual inconsistency of "this generation." It serves as a powerful teaching device to highlight the absurdity and unreasonableness of their behavior. By asking "Whereunto then shall I liken them?" Jesus forces His audience to confront their own contradictory responses to divine truth. This question sets the stage for the subsequent parable ([Luke 7:32-35](/luke/7-32-35 "The Parable of the Children in the Marketplace")), which provides the answer to His rhetorical query, likening them to petulant children who refuse to be pleased, regardless of whether a flute is played or a dirge is sung.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") powerfully foreshadows the ultimate rejection of Christ himself, revealing a consistent pattern of humanity's resistance to divine wisdom. The "men of this generation" who found fault with both John the Baptist's asceticism and Jesus's more social approach embody the world's deep-seated antagonism towards God's truth, regardless of its manifestation. This rejection culminates in the crucifixion of Jesus, the very wisdom of God incarnate ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God")). Just as they refused to dance to the joyful tune of the Messiah or mourn with the prophet of repentance, so too did they ultimately reject the One who came to bring both sorrow for sin and the joy of salvation. Yet, in this very rejection, Christ's mission is fulfilled. His lament in [Luke 7:31](/luke/7-31 "Luke 7:31 - Jesus' Question to His Generation") highlights the profound spiritual blindness that led to His suffering, but it also underscores the vindication of divine wisdom through His resurrection and the establishment of His kingdom, which, though rejected by many, is embraced by the "children of wisdom" ([Luke 7:35](/luke/7-35 "Luke 7:35 - Wisdom Justified by Her Children")) who recognize Him as Lord and Savior ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Jesus Exalted as Lord")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Lamentations 2:13

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach [is] great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Matthew 11:16

¶ But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

Matthew 11:19

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Mark 4:30

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?