Now Christ then says these words and these words trouble people a little. ‘He answereth him and saith, Oh faithless generation.
Think of our generation. This is a conspicuously unbelieving generation, the present society. It has not always been as bad as this, where the vast majority of people, and even our leaders, our politicians believe nothing, never pray, never worship, hold in scorn the things of God and the soul and eternity. It's a conspicuously unbelieving evil generation. Does this verse not hint, that at such a time, in such a generation, difficulties upon earth of a purely physical temporal kind will grow worse? ‘Oh faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?’ Is that not saying that because this is a particularly unbelieving rejecting generation, things are bound to be worse for you? We should not be surprised. Faithless people will not pray; they will not look to God, will not bow the knee to him. And because of that, society has no power at all to deal with such things. It cannot pray, it cannot call upon God for help. ‘Oh faithless generation!’