Luke 7:31

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

Luke 7:31 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:31

And the Lord said
This clause is not in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, nor in some copies, nor in Beza's most ancient copy; and being omitted, more clearly shows, that the two former verses are the words of Christ, and not an observation the evangelist makes, on the different behaviour of Christ's hearers, upon the commendation he had given of John:

whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation;
or "to what men shall I liken them", as the Persic version: the phrase "men of this generation", is Rabbinical; so (yvwa awhh ard) , the men of that "generation", are more beautiful in work than these, says the Targumist on ( Ecclesiastes 7:11 ) . "And to what are they like?" To that which follows.

Luke 7:31 In-Context

29 All the people who heard him, even the tax-collectors, by undergoing Yochanan's immersion acknowledged that God was right;

30 but the P'rushim and the Torah-teachers, by not letting themselves be immersed by him, nullified for themselves God's plan.

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

32 They are like children sitting in the marketplaces, calling to one another, `We made happy music, but you wouldn't dance! We made sad music, but you wouldn't cry!'

33 For Yochanan has come not eating bread and not drinking wine; and you say, `He has a demon!'