Then, as the crowds were quickly gathering, He began to say: This generation is a wicked generation: it seeks a sign. But no sign will be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (Lk 11:29)
Τῶν δὲ ὄχλων ἐπαθροιζομένων ἤρξατο λέγειν· ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη γενεὰ πονηρά ἐστιν· σημεῖον ζητεῖ, καὶ σημεῖον οὐ δοθήσεται αὐτῇ εἰ μὴ τὸ σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ.
Turbis autem concurrentibus cœpit dicere: Generatio hæc, generatio nequam est: signum quærit, et signum non dabitur ei, nisi signum Ionæ prophetæ.
This word is used once in the New Testament. The very fact of people gathering is a social and natural phenomenon. However, in Jesus’ eyes, this does not look very encouraging because He sees their unfair motivation. They probably saw many times that signs and miracles occurred when the crowd gathered around Jesus. But firstly, they wanted to listen to the Word of God. How different does the crowd of people look in chapter 5, where we read: Now it happened that when the crowds pressed toward Him so that they might hear the word of God, He was standing beside the lake of Kinneret, He saw two boats standing beside the lake. But the fishermen had climbed down, and they were washing their nets (Luke 5:1n). Two different attitudes. Here Lord Jesus presents their demand for signs, and miracles, for a moment of astonishment, but then it does not change anything, it does not change their mind. They did not set out on the path of seeking wisdom and conversion. Therefore, they will be judged.
