Luke 7:31
And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Κύριος,
the Lord
G2962
Κύριος,
the Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
4 of 16
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
τίνι
Whereunto
G5101
τίνι
Whereunto
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
5 of 16
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ὁμοιώσω
shall I liken
G3666
ὁμοιώσω
shall I liken
Strong's:
G3666
Word #:
7 of 16
to assimilate, i.e., compare; passively, to become similar
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γενεᾶς
generation
G1074
γενεᾶς
generation
Strong's:
G1074
Word #:
11 of 16
a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons)
ταύτης
G3778
ταύτης
Strong's:
G3778
Word #:
12 of 16
the he (she or it), i.e., this or that (often with article repeated)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Historical Context
Ancient marketplaces were public squares where business, social interaction, and children's play occurred. The game described—children trying to get peers to respond to different moods—was apparently common. Jesus used relatable illustration to expose absurdity of His contemporaries' inconsistent criticisms. This rhetorical technique appears throughout His teaching—parables from everyday life revealing spiritual truth.
Questions for Reflection
- How do contradictory criticisms of Christian ministry reveal critics' hardness rather than ministers' failure?
- In what ways do we resist God's message when it doesn't match our preferences?
- How should ministers respond to unreasonable or contradictory criticisms?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Jesus likens His generation to children in marketplace: 'They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another' (Greek 'homoi oi eismn paidiois tois en agora kathēmenois'). The children's game involves mimicking adult activities—weddings (joyful) and funerals (mournful). The complaint 'we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept' illustrates unreasonable pickiness. No matter what tune is played, they refuse to respond appropriately. Jesus applies this to His generation's response to John's asceticism and His own sociability—both rejected. Reformed theology recognizes that unregenerate humanity resists God's messengers regardless of method. The problem isn't presentation but hearers' hardness.