Lesson 37 The Generation that needs a Sign, Luke 11:29- 54

The Increasing Crowds 11:29- 32

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”

Never underestimate the power of the Old Testament to drive what you are reading and urging us to remember something so we can understand in the New Testament. Who would have thought that Jonah and Nineveh would come up out of nowhere, for a time like this? But here it is right in front of us. So, we grab our theology thinking hats and see what’s up. In fact there are a whole slew of people that Jesus puts on our Bible plate for consideration: Jonah, Queen of the south (Sheba), Solomon, and the people of Nineveh. All the while Jesus is at the forefront.

While it may seem expedient for Jesus to be popular with the crowds, He goes into a full-tilt mode of denouncing what was wrong with the current generation. He is saying in effect, “Why are you asking for a sign when I have told you the kingdom has already arrived?” Whew, that one went right over their heads! He is telling them, “You are not getting a sign because of your misplaced outlook and faith.”-my translation. If Jonah himself was a sign to the people of Nineveh, then Jesus Himself would be the sign to this generation. Nothing more, nothing less. If they have missed all of the miracles, then what are they looking for? For goodness sake, cannot they see Jesus?

Solomon is the one keyed to the Queen of Sheba(The South). The Queen came to Solomon bearing gifts worthy of a wealthy king, and maybe hoping to find a suitor for herself in Him. But Solomon was like “living in another world.” His wealth and splendor was far above what she had imagined. She admitted this out loud that she was out of her league. Solomon’s impression sent her home shaking her head about what she had just seen. It is this humbled queen, who may have believed after this encounter, would now rise up in judgment over the men of this generation. And, she gives them her thumbs down-condemned! All because of the wisdom of Solomon. Jesus says, “all of the good stuff was there with Solomon but something greater than Solomon is standing right in front of you.” This is not to mention that Jesus further disgraced these men by saying they will be judged by a woman. For this society, these were fighting words.

The same holds true for the wicked men of Nineveh. They all repented, right down to the last guy after Jonah preached. They too, will rise up and condemn the generation that puts Jesus on the cross, because something greater than Jonah is standing right in front of them. Truth is, judgment is coming and far lesser people than you can imagine will be some of the ones to testify against you at the judgment bar.

Let’s take this one step further. Both examples of people who will rise up against this generation in judgment, are Gentiles. This generation is seeking all the wrong things. If there ever was a time to believe in Jesus, this would have been it. The Jews have been pushing back against Jesus as their Lord:

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Chapter 11)

If Gentiles like the Queen of Sheba and the people of Nineveh believed on the basis of the message God gave them, how much more should the Jews of that day repent, having seen all He did and heard His messages! Privilege always brings responsibility, and the nation was sinning against a flood of light. Lost people in so-called “civilized” societies will face a greater judgment than the so-called “heathen” in primitive societies.

Targeting the Pharisees: Luke 11:33- 44

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.

39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 11:33–44.

This is a chunk of Scripture to take at one time, as the flow demands that we do so. Simply put, the light of Jesus shines in the world through the people who live for Him! Just like the chorus song says, “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” But first, the light needs to be in you through Jesus Christ. Your eyes are the lamp of your body. Be careful to put the good stuff in front of your eyes. They need to be full of light and not darkness. If you are in the light of Jesus, then the darkness will be sent packing and you will be living in the light. Jesus had an audience that had a lot of darkness in it.

While Jesus was speaking a Pharisee interrupted Him to see if the Lord would come and dine with him. So Jesus did. He used the occasion to continue to preach. And preach He did! The Pharisees, touched a very tender nerve: cleanness. He is disgusted that the Pharisees are more concerned about clean hands than a pure heart. It seems as though they were tying their giving with being clean inside, according to verse 41. And, being washed is more important than getting rid of their greed and wickedness. Wow, something was rotten in Denmark and Jesus had called out their hypocrisy. Their outside was clean but there was downright corruption on the inside.

Verse 41 Jesus tells them to give their alms/finances as they would give their heart to the Lord. Make it a spiritual exercise, not just a physical experience. I would go so far as to say it is a sacred experience. Giving is to be without hypocrisy, greed and wickedness. Twice Jesus says, “Woe to you..” when addressing the Pharisees. It means it is downright “horror or something dreadful” It is another way of saying”Cursed are you Pharisees!” He explains that they love public recognition, but they are going to be treated like an unmarked grave. People will walk on top of them without so much as even recognizing someone is buried there. They are just about to find out that they have been royally insulted. But how do we think God feels when we treat others as badly as our Savior was treated?