Is like children
In the market place.
They call to one another.
But you did not dance.
But you did not weep.’”
ὅμοιοί εἰσιν παιδίοις τοῖς ἐν ἀγορᾷ καθημένοις καὶ προσφωνοῦσιν ἀλλήλοις ἃ λέγει Ηὐλήσαμεν ὑμῖν καὶ οὐκ ὠρχήσασθε· ἐθρηνήσαμεν καὶ οὐκ ἐκλαύσατε.
Luke indicated that Jesus said this generation was like little children (ὅμοιοί εἰσιν παιδίοις) sitting in the market place (τοῖς ἐν ἀγορᾷ καθημένοις). They would call to one another (καὶ προσφωνοῦσιν ἀλλήλοις ἃ), saying that they played the flute for them (λέγει Ηὐλήσαμεν ὑμῖν), but they would not dance (καὶ οὐκ ὠρχήσασθε). They wailed or sang a dirge (ἐθρηνήσαμεν), but they would not weep (καὶ οὐκ ἐκλαύσατε). Matthew, chapter 11:16-17, had a similar statement, indicating a possible common Q source. Jesus took on this childish generation, since they were like little kids sitting in the market places calling to each other, as if playing games. These spoiled little children grumbled about everything. This childish generation complained that John and Jesus would not dance to their flute playing. They would not wail and lament when they wanted them to join their dirge. Jesus and John the Baptist would not play their childish games by dancing and mourning at the drop of a hat. Are you part of a childish generation?
“But to what
Shall I compare
Sitting in the market places.
They are calling
To one another.”
Τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην; ὁμοία ἐστὶν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἃ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις
Then Matthew has Jesus take on the present generation, calling it childish. Luke, chapter 7:31, has a similar statement, indicating a possible common Q source. Jesus, via Matthew, wanted to know to what he should compare this generation to (Τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην). He decided that it was like little kids sitting in the market places (ὁμοία ἐστὶν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς) calling to each other (ἃ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις), as if playing games.
“He has put my family far from me.
My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
My relatives and my close friends have failed me.
The guests in my house have forgotten me.
My servant girls count me as a stranger.
I have become an alien in their eyes.
I call to my servant,
But he gives me no answer.
I must myself plead with him.
My breath is repulsive to my wife.
I am loathsome to my own family.
Even young children despise me.
When I rise,
They talk against me.
All my intimate friends abhor me.
Those whom I loved have turned against me.
My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh.
I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Have pity on me!
Have pity on me!
O you my friends,
The hand of God has touched me!
Why do you,
Why are you never satisfied with my flesh?”
Job was an outcast from his family and friends. Everyone had failed him. His own house guests have forgotten him. As if to impress us with his wealth, his servant girls now treat him like a stranger. His servants do not answer him so that now he has to actually plead with them to do things. His wife did not like his breath. Even little kids ran away from him and talked behind his back. His bones clung to his skin since he seemed to lose weight. His teeth were in bad shape. He wanted God to have pity on him. He wanted to know why God was pursuing him. Why was everybody after him?