Luke 7:31
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Luke 7:31
31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
Chapter Context
Luke 7 is a historical gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of grace, salvation, worship. Written during the late first century CE (c. 80-85 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Written when Christians needed to understand their place in the Roman world.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-50: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Luke and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Luke 7:31
31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
Analysis
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.
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.
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?
Word Studies
- Lord: Κύριος (Kurios) G2962 - Lord, Master
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Lamentations 2:13