Childish generation (Mt 11:16-11:16)

“But to what

Shall I compare

This generation?

It is

Like children

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.