Matthew 11:16a - This Generation - Part 1

Matthew 11:16a "But whereunto shall I liken this generation?"

Jesus here is speaking to the multitudes about John the Baptist. John the Baptist was in jail for preaching to Herod that it was unlawful for him to take his brother’s wife as his own.

While in prison he hears of Jesus’ preaching and sends his disciples to ask Christ if He was the one. Two thoughts as to why he asked:

#1 – For his disciples sake, because John himself knew and he wanted them to hear for themselves.

#2 – He began to have some doubt. Maybe he wondered, “If Jesus is the Christ, than why am I in jail for preaching His Gospel…why hasn't he got me out...?” By the way, it is o.k. to ask God why when you go through trials, but you must be willing to accept His answer.

After this, Jesus tells this crowd that is following Him some great things about John the Baptist:

– 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

- 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist...

Then Jesus asks the question – but whereunto shall I liken this generation? He asks this to those who heard the truth from John the Baptist, but did not listen and were still lost, living in their sin. That was a generation that was bound for an eternity in a Christ-less Hell, and we are surrounded by people today in that same generation. People have not changed. Human nature is still the same today as it was when Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden and sent all mankind into the downward spiral of sin.

Are you a part of this generation today?

In the next couple of post, I want to give you 3 things that the Bible says about that generation that are still true today about this generation. Today, we will look at the first one:

#1 - THIS GENERATION IS INDIFFERENT – Matt. 11:16-17

Jesus likened this generation to a group of children playing out on the street. Children are imitators. Jesus said this generation imitates two things: a dance, and a funeral.

Someone played music, and no one came.

Someone had a funeral, and no one cared.

They were indifferent to what was going on around them.

In spite of all the preaching of the Gospel, this generation is indifferent to the Bible. They are not indifferent to religion, which we will talk about in a later post, but indifferent to the Gospel of Grace.

And this indifferent attitude of the lost has rubbed off on many Christians today. They are neither hot nor cold – lukewarm. Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. This attitude of indifference has sent more people to hell than anything else.

You say you don’t care now – but you better start caring before it is too late.