What does Luke 7:31 mean?

Jesus has addressed John the Baptist's questions about who He is (Luke 7:18–23). He has explained the unprecedented prophetic role John holds in God's plan (Luke 7:24–30). Now, He describes the response of the people to both John's and His messages.

"Generation" is a term which can be over-analyzed. In the simplest sense, it means some collection of people living in roughly the same time and place. The ensuing description is negative, which fits with the Pharisees and lawyers Luke has just mentioned (Luke 7:30). Yet the criticism is not merely about those religious leaders. The majority of both John's and Jesus' audiences reject them and their messages. The Jews as a people reject their Messiah. Jesus points this out in a bit when He comments that "this generation" considers Him "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 7:34). The Pharisees and lawyers, or scribes, certainly do, but the average person attempting to live a good life by following the Mosaic law likely would, as well.

Still, there is always a remnant. Those sinners and tax collectors—and even Roman soldiers—accepted John's message of repentance and are "prepared" for Jesus' (Luke 3:10–14; 7:27). Matthew's version says, "But to what shall I compare this generation?" (Matthew 11:16).