While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here. (Lk 11:29-32)
This generation is an evil generation because it is seeking for a sign. The people whom Jesus is condemning are the people of Israel who are the descendants of Abraham. He was a man of faith. He believed in God and he was justified for the same. These people do not believe in Jesus in stead they are asking for proofs and signs.
Ninevites were not the descendants of Israel and yet when Jonah preached tot hem they did not demand for a sign. They accepted his preaching and converted themselves and were saved. Jonah did not do any signs and wonders for the people to believe; he only preached to them. Non Jewish people (in a sense non believing people) accepted the preaching.
‘Someone greater than Solomon is here’. Jesus presents himself as greater than the wise man of history. People longed to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Greater wisdom is in Jesus. Jonah was a prophet. Prophet of all the prophets was Jesus. Jesus was the prophet and he was the wisdom.
