Luke 9:41

KJV

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} answering {G611} said {G2036}, O {G5599} faithless {G571} and {G2532} perverse {G1294} generation {G1074}, how {G2193} long {G4219} shall I be {G2071} with {G4314} you {G5209}, and {G2532} suffer {G430} you {G5216}? Bring {G4317} thy {G4675} son {G5207} hither {G5602}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“Perverted people, without any trust!” Yeshua answered, “How long do I have to be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

Berean Standard Bible

“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

American Standard Version

And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and bear with you? bring hither thy son.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jesus responds to His disciples' failure to heal a demon-possessed boy with a poignant lament, addressing the pervasive unbelief and spiritual corruption of the generation around Him. This powerful declaration expresses His profound frustration with their spiritual dullness and moral perversity, while simultaneously asserting His divine authority and immediate readiness to act where human efforts have failed, culminating in a direct command to bring the afflicted child to Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the dramatic event of the Transfiguration, where Jesus' divine glory was revealed to Peter, James, and John on a high mountain ([Luke 9:28-36](/luke/9-28-36 "Luke 9:28-36 - The Transfiguration")). Upon descending the mountain, Jesus and His inner circle are met by a large crowd, including a desperate father whose son is severely afflicted by a demon. The disciples, left behind at the base of the mountain, had attempted to cast out the demon but failed ([Luke 9:37-40](/luke/9-37-40 "Luke 9:37-40 - The Disciples' Failure to Heal")). Jesus' exasperated cry in [Luke 9:41](/luke/9-41 "Luke 9:41 - Jesus' Rebuke of a Faithless Generation") serves as a sharp contrast to the divine glory just witnessed; it highlights the spiritual darkness and unbelief prevalent even among those closest to Him, setting the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His unique power and authority. The subsequent healing of the boy ([Luke 9:42-43](/luke/9-42-43 "Luke 9:42-43 - Jesus Heals the Demon-Possessed Boy")) further underscores this contrast.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was a land steeped in religious tradition, yet simultaneously marked by significant spiritual and moral decay. While the Mosaic Law was revered, its spirit was often overshadowed by rigid legalism and hypocrisy, particularly among religious leaders. The people lived under Roman occupation, fostering a sense of nationalistic longing for a Messiah who would deliver them politically, often missing the spiritual nature of His kingdom. Demon possession was a recognized and feared reality, understood as a manifestation of evil forces, and healers were sought after. Jesus' lament, "O faithless and perverse generation," reflects a deep-seated spiritual malaise—a lack of genuine faith in God's power and a moral corruption that turned people away from true righteousness, despite their proximity to the very presence of God in human form. This spiritual blindness was a profound obstacle to the reception of His message and miracles.

* **Key Themes:** [Luke 9:41](/luke/9-41 "Luke 9:41 - Jesus' Rebuke of a Faithless Generation") powerfully encapsulates several key themes central to Luke's Gospel and Jesus' ministry. Foremost is the **Pervasiveness of Unbelief**, a recurring lament for Jesus as He encounters resistance and spiritual dullness not only from the crowds but also, implicitly, from His own disciples, who had been given authority to cast out demons ([Luke 9:1](/luke/9-1 "Luke 9:1 - Jesus Gives Authority to His Disciples")). This highlights the theme of **Human Limitation versus Divine Authority**, where human efforts, even those empowered by Christ, fall short without genuine faith, while Jesus' power remains absolute and immediate. The verse also reveals **Jesus' Divine Patience and Suffering**, as His question "how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?" expresses a profound weariness with spiritual stubbornness, yet His immediate command to "Bring thy son hither" simultaneously demonstrates His enduring compassion and commitment to healing and restoration, even amidst frustration.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Generation (Greek, _geneá'_):** From G1074, meaning "a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons)." Here, Jesus is not merely addressing the individuals present but is issuing a sweeping indictment of the entire spiritual and moral character of the people living in that era. It encompasses their collective mindset, their spiritual disposition, and their general resistance to God's truth and power, reflecting a pervasive cultural and spiritual state.
* **Faithless (Greek, _ápistos'_):** From G571, meaning "(actively) disbelieving, i.e., without Christian faith (specially, a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing)." In this context, it describes a profound spiritual condition of unbelief or lack of conviction in God's power and promises. It signifies a failure to trust in Jesus' authority and ability, which directly hindered the disciples' capacity to heal and reflected a broader spiritual distrust among the people.
* **Perverse (Greek, _diastréphō'_):** From G1294, meaning "to distort, i.e. (figuratively) misinterpret, or (morally) corrupt." This term implies a deep moral and spiritual deviation, a turning aside from what is upright, true, and righteous. It suggests not just a lack of faith, but an active resistance or distortion of God's will and truth, indicating a stubborn, twisted disposition that made them unreceptive to divine power and revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answering said,"**: This phrase indicates Jesus' immediate and decisive response to the situation He encounters upon descending from the Mount of Transfiguration. He is confronted with the disciples' failure and the father's distress, and His words are a direct, authoritative address to the spiritual climate.
* **"O faithless and perverse generation,"**: This is a powerful, direct lament and rebuke. "Faithless" (ápistos) speaks to their spiritual inability to trust God's power, while "perverse" (diastréphō) points to a moral and spiritual corruption, a turning away from God's ways. Jesus is not merely criticizing individuals but is diagnosing a widespread spiritual sickness affecting the entire society of His time.
* **"how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?"**: This is a rhetorical question that conveys Jesus' profound exasperation and weariness with the spiritual dullness, unbelief, and moral stubbornness He constantly encounters. It expresses a divine patience that is stretched thin by persistent human resistance, yet it also highlights His commitment to remaining with them despite their shortcomings, enduring their spiritual immaturity for their ultimate good.
* **"Bring thy son hither."**: Despite His lament and frustration, Jesus immediately shifts from rebuke to action. This is a direct, authoritative command demonstrating His readiness and unique capacity to intervene where human efforts have failed. It underscores His compassion and sovereign power, cutting through the spiritual stagnation to address the immediate need for healing.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 9:41 employs several potent literary devices to convey Jesus' profound emotion and authority. The most prominent is **Apostrophe**, where Jesus directly addresses an absent or generalized entity, "O faithless and perverse generation." This allows Him to indict the collective spiritual state of the people, including His disciples, rather than just the specific individuals involved in the failed healing. Following this, Jesus uses a **Rhetorical Question**: "how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?" This question is not posed to elicit an answer but to express His deep weariness, frustration, and long-suffering patience with their spiritual dullness and moral corruption. It amplifies the emotional weight of His lament. Finally, the abrupt shift to the imperative, "Bring thy son hither," demonstrates **Juxtaposition**, contrasting His emotional lament with His immediate, decisive, and compassionate action, highlighting His ultimate authority and readiness to heal despite the prevailing unbelief.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 9:41 serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of unbelief and its hindering effect on divine power, while simultaneously showcasing Jesus' unwavering authority and compassion. Jesus' lament over the "faithless and perverse generation" resonates with God's long-suffering patience throughout salvation history, as seen in His dealings with ancient Israel, who often turned away from Him despite His miraculous interventions. This passage underscores that true spiritual power is not derived from human effort or even delegated authority alone, but from a genuine, active faith in God's sovereign ability. Even when faced with profound spiritual resistance and the failure of His own disciples, Jesus remains the ultimate source of healing and deliverance, demonstrating that His power transcends all human limitations and spiritual darkness.

* [Deuteronomy 32:20](/deuteronomy/32-20 "Deuteronomy 32:20 - A Perverse Generation")
* [Psalm 78:8](/psalms/78-8 "Psalm 78:8 - A Stubborn and Rebellious Generation")
* [Philippians 2:15](/philippians/2-15 "Philippians 2:15 - Blameless in a Perverse Generation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Luke 9:41](/luke/9-41 "Luke 9:41 - Jesus' Rebuke of a Faithless Generation") challenges us to honestly examine the depth and consistency of our own faith. Are there areas in our lives where we exhibit a "faithless" or "perverse" disposition, perhaps through doubt, cynicism, or a stubborn refusal to fully trust God's power and wisdom? Jesus' frustration reminds us that our spiritual apathy or active resistance can grieve the heart of God and hinder the manifestation of His power in and through us. This passage calls us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a dynamic, active faith that is willing to bring our impossible situations directly to Christ, believing in His supreme authority and compassion. It encourages us to cultivate a spiritual environment of trust and obedience, allowing God's transformative power to flow unhindered, even when our own efforts or the efforts of others have failed.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I struggle with "faithlessness" or a "perverse" (twisted) way of thinking that hinders God's work?**
* **How does Jesus' question, "how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?" challenge my understanding of His patience and my own spiritual growth?**
* **What "impossible" situations in my life or the lives of those around me do I need to "bring hither" to Jesus, trusting in His ultimate authority?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more active faith that aligns with God's will and allows His power to operate more freely through me?**

### FAQ
**Was Jesus' rebuke in Luke 9:41 directed only at the crowd, or did it include His disciples?**

Answer: While Jesus' lament, "O faithless and perverse generation," might seem to be a general indictment of the crowd, the immediate literary context strongly suggests it also implicitly includes His disciples. They had just failed to cast out the demon, despite having been given authority by Jesus to do so earlier in [Luke 9:1](/luke/9-1 "Luke 9:1 - Jesus Gives Authority to His Disciples"). Their failure stemmed from a lack of faith, as Jesus later indicates in parallel accounts (e.g., [Matthew 17:19-20](/matthew/17-19-20 "Matthew 17:19-20 - The Disciples' Lack of Faith")). Therefore, Jesus' exasperation encompasses both the general spiritual dullness of the people and the specific deficiency in faith demonstrated by His closest followers. His words serve as a powerful challenge to all who claim to follow Him, highlighting the necessity of genuine, active faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Luke 9:41](/luke/9-41 "Luke 9:41 - Jesus' Rebuke of a Faithless Generation") profoundly foreshadows the ultimate redemptive work of Christ. Jesus' lament over a "faithless and perverse generation" encapsulates the very reason for His incarnation: to save a world steeped in unbelief and moral corruption. His question, "how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?" speaks not only of His immediate weariness but also of the immense burden He carried, knowing that His mission would culminate in suffering and death for the very people who resisted Him. This divine patience, stretched to its limit, finds its ultimate expression on the cross, where Christ, the Lamb of God, bore the sins of this "faithless and perverse generation" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His command to "Bring thy son hither" is a microcosm of His ongoing invitation to humanity to bring their brokenness, their spiritual afflictions, and their deepest needs to Him, for He alone possesses the power to heal and restore. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered the power of sin and death, offering a new covenant of faith where the Spirit empowers believers to overcome the very "faithlessness" and "perversity" that grieved Him, transforming them into a generation that truly believes and obeys ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love") and [Ephesians 2:4-5](/ephesians/2-4-5 "Ephesians 2:4-5 - Made Alive in Christ")).

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

Deuteronomy 32:5

They have corrupted themselves, their spot [is] not [the spot] of his children: [they are] a perverse and crooked generation.

Matthew 17:17

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

John 14:9

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

John 20:27

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Mark 9:19

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

Psalms 78:8

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Matthew 3:7

¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?