Jesus talked about this generation
in Mark 8:12 when he was confronted by the Pharisees. Most likely, the term refers to Jesus’ contemporaries, the people who lived on earth when he walked on earth.1 He adds the word adulterous
to indicate that the people are unfaithful to God. In the general attitude of many people to Jesus, they show themselves to be unconcerned about God, just like the people of the Old Testament were unfaithful to the Lord (see Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 57:3–13; Ezekiel 16:32–41; Hosea 2:2–6).2
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”