Luke 9:41 - Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

Generated Verse: Luke 9:41

What does "Luke 9:41" mean?


This verse from Luke 9:41 captures a moment of frustration and sorrow from Jesus. To understand it fully, let's break down the components:

Context: This verse comes directly after Jesus' disciples failed to heal a boy possessed by a demon. The boy's father had approached them for help while Jesus was away on the Mount of Transfiguration.

"Faithless and perverse generation": This is a harsh rebuke from Jesus.
Faithless: It points to a lack of belief, not just in Jesus' power to heal, but also in the broader power and availability of God's grace. It implies a spiritual blindness or hardness of heart. This applies to the people around him in general and specifically to the disciples who have been given the power to heal but failed.
Perverse: This suggests a deviation from what is right and good, a corrupt or distorted way of thinking and acting. It is a serious criticism.

"How long shall I be with you and bear with you?": This reveals Jesus' weariness and impatience. He's expressing the emotional toll of dealing with their lack of faith and understanding. He's asking, in essence, when will they truly grasp the power and presence of God? This question underscores the time pressure of his ministry. He knows his earthly time is limited.

"Bring your son here": This is a direct command. Jesus is taking control of the situation and demonstrating that he, unlike his disciples in this instance, can heal the boy.

Overall Meaning:

The verse highlights several key themes:

The Importance of Faith: Jesus emphasizes the essential role of faith in experiencing God's power. The disciples' failure to heal the boy is directly linked to their lack of faith.
Jesus' Authority: By stepping in and commanding the boy to be brought to him, Jesus asserts his authority and power over evil.
Jesus' Humanity: The verse reveals Jesus' frustration and weariness. He is not simply a detached divine figure; he experiences the burden of dealing with human weakness and unbelief.
A Call to Action: It serves as a call for his followers (both then and now) to deepen their faith and rely on God's power to overcome challenges.

In essence, Jesus is saying, "Your lack of faith is hindering you and those around you. I am here to show you the power of God, but you must trust in me."