Something Greater

There is a battle going on for authority. The Pharisees and the Scribes are self-appointed authorities on the law. The Priests are the God-appointed authority.

However, Jesus shows up on the scene and the religious leaders want to know WHERE he gets his authority from. ⚡

Matthew 12:38 CSB

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

The scribes and Pharisees want to see a sign. While they call him “teacher” they are not his students nor do they care to be. IF you are a teacher, under whose authority are you teaching? They said it was Beelzebul. Jesus said it was under Yahweh.

Why a sign? Weren’t the miracles enough? Well, those were certainly spectacular! But I believe they are asking for something a little bit different. They are looking for proof that God sent him.

ASK: can you think of some prophets who had signs given to them by Yahweh to prove they were his messengers?

Elijah called down fire from heaven to prove that he was a servant of Yahweh and that Baal had no power.

Moses performed 10 miracles in front of Pharaoh to demonstrate his authority from Yahweh.

I suppose, if they were sincere, this might not be an unreasonable request. However, Jesus knows their motives and here is his response: ⚡

Matthew 12:39–40 CSB

39 He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

He calls them a wicked and adulterous generation.

Generation

Jesus uses the phrase “this generation” to reference more than just those religious leaders. That “generation” got to experience something no other generation since Adam and Eve had - God walking among humans.

The word “generation” appears 9 times after the Genealogy in chapter 1, and all of those are in a negative way about the people rejecting Jesus - starting in chapter 11.

Adulterous

Jesus was not referring to their marital covenants with their spouses. He was referring to their covenant with Yahweh and how they have broken their vows with him - just like the Israelites did at Mount Sinai when they made the golden calf.

Jesus refused to give them a sign, at least not one at that time.

He pointed to a past event to gave a sign that would be a future event, neither of which satisfied the present demand of proof.

He does not give a sign like the prophets Moses and Elijah did, instead he pointed to a prophet to be his sign. Let’s re-read our Matthew passage in the NASB because it has some great nuances:

Matthew 12:39–41 NASB 2020

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

The Sign of Jonah

The reference Jesus made is a direct quote ⚡of Jonah 1:17 “The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

Jonah chapter 2 is all about Jonah in the belly of the big fish or sea monster. He was almost to the point of death and God rescued him and saved him from death.

Jonah 2:4–6 CSB

4 And I said, “I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look once more toward your holy temple. 5 The water engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 I sank to the foundations of the mountains, the earth’s gates shut behind me forever! Then you raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God!

Though Jonah was about to die he did not. His situation seemed to be a metaphor of death and resurrection: Jonah went down into the depths of the water, to the roots of the mountains and to the pit - the grave. Then he was “raised to life” by Yahweh.

Jesus said that was a picture of what is going to happen to the “Son of Man” - which we know means him.

We talk about all of the Bible being a unified story from beginning to end about God’s redemption of mankind. We also talk about how all of the Bible points to Jesus. Jesus just demonstrated how two different Old Testament stories pointed to him.

For Jesus to state that he will be in the heart of the earth for 3 days and nights gives us a peek into the reality that Jesus knew what was going to happen to him in the coming days. He was actually foretelling of his coming burial and resurrection!

Judgement Day

Remember, this section of narrative is about whether or not people accept Jesus. Some will and others will reject him. Some will repent, others will not.

Jesus then says that the people of Nineveh, that wicked city, will stand up and condemn the Jews that are rejecting Jesus! That pagan people will be more righteous than the scribes and pharisees.

Matthew H. The King Denies the Hypocrites a Sign (12:38–45)

Heathen Nineveh repented before Jonah, God’s prophet. Privileged Israel was rejecting the manifestation of God himself (one greater than Jonah). Thus, Nineveh had every right to condemn unbelieving Israel at the judgment.

Something greater than Jonah

** I want to come back to this later.

The Queen of the South

The second illustration from the prophets is the queen of Sheba (or the queen of the south):

Matthew 12:42 CSB

42 The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look—something greater than Solomon is here.

This story goes back to 1 Kings 10:1-13, where the queen of Sheba visits Solomon because she heard of his wisdom. Her response after questioning Solomon (much like the Pharisees kept questioning Jesus) was this: ⚡

1 Kings 10:6–9 CSB

6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true. 7 But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard. 8 How happy are your men. How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom. 9 Blessed be the Lord your God! He delighted in you and put you on the throne of Israel, because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel. He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”

She saw the wisdom he had and acknowledge it was from God and blessed both Solomon and Yahweh.

Judgement

This foreigner (and a WOMAN at that) will stand and condemn “that generation” because she acknowledge Solomon’s wisdom and that he received it from Yahweh.

Matthew H. The King Denies the Hypocrites a Sign (12:38–45)

Heathen Sheba believed in Yahweh because of his anointed king. Privileged Israel was rejecting God’s Anointed—the Christ or Messiah-King (one greater than Solomon). Thus, Sheba had every right to condemn unbelieving Israel at the judgment.

Something Greater

And then he says, “something greater than Solomon is here”.

** we will get to that in a few minutes

THE PEOPLE:

ask: who are the people from these passages that accepted God and will judge that “generation”?

Both the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba are NOT part of the nation of Israel. They are NOT part of the circumcision. They are outsiders, and they will be greater than those that reject Jesus. They will stand with God against the Jews and their leaders that rejected the Anointed One who came from God.

It is significant to note that even here we see that the entire Bible, not just the NT, teaches the inclusion of the nations and their acceptance by the Father. It was NEVER meant that only the Jews would be “in” - but that they would be a light to all nations so that ALL MEN might be reconciled to God.

Demon Parable

The end of the chapter is an illustration, a parable, that demonstrates what that “generation” is like and how it will be worse off and not better because of its rejection of Jesus:

Matthew 12:43–45 CSB

43 “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first. That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

While there is a lot of debate as to all that is meant in that passage, one thing we can acknowledge from the context of the passage is that those that reject Jesus, such as the scribes and pharisees who were questioning Jesus ad the beginning of this passage, will be tormented because of their rejection of the Messiah. That evil generation will be worse off after Jesus came than before because they rejected Jesus.

We mentioned at the beginning chapter 11 that the problem with the gospel is that it demands a response. Once you know about Jesus you have to choose to place your faith in him or you are choosing to reject him.

I pray that you have accepted him!

WHY

WHY would we choose to place our faith in Jesus? Why do millions of people declare allegiance to Jesus who walked on this earth about 2000 years ago?

While it seems like chapters 11-12 are very negative with judgement about those that reject Jesus, they also contain some amazing teachings about who Jesus is and why we can trust him and follow him. The key is in an obscure phrase that shows up 3 times only in these chapters and their parallels in Luke:

SOMETHING GREATER

Just as the word “generation” implicates than just the religious leaders that Jesus was addressing, “something greater” implies more than Jesus - which is saying a LOT!

First we should recognize that the word “something” does not exist in the original text. However, the reference to that which is greater is in the neuter - so referring to an object not a person. Luke also uses the same phrase of “something greater”.

The NLT translates it someone greater - which is certainly applicable! However, I think there are more layers to it than just that.

Jesus’ message was not that HE had arrived even though the angels announced it that way at his birth. He calls himself the son of man, not the son of God. His message has been that God’s kingdom has arrived. His message is that God’s promise was being fulfilled. His message was about something bigger than one person or one generation.

Matthew in his section on the challenge of Jesus’ authority and the acceptance/rejection by that generation, what we refer to as chapter 12, uses the phrase “something greater” three times. Obviously, that is intentional. ⚡

Matt 12:6 “I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.”

Matt 12:41 “... and look—something greater than Jonah is here.”

Matt 12:42 “… and look—something greater than Solomon is here.”

The more I read and process (meditate) on this the more layers I see and the richer it becomes. I am sure that in my studies and in what we will cover today we are just scratching the surface!

WHO is Jesus? WHAT authority does he have? WHY should we accept and follow him? I think these questions are answered clearly when we look at something greater...

Something greater than the temple ⚡

Let’s start with the temple.

Presence of God

It was the place where God was among men. When it was dedicated we read:

2 Chronicles 7:16 CSB

16 And I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there at all times.

It was the place where the people could come close to God, and where the high priest, once a year, could go to the throne of God. It was symbolic of God among his people. It was a partial undoing of the exile out of Eden.

Jesus was greater than the temple because he wasn’t a veiled presence of God behind a curtain accessible by few, he was God among men, accessible to the crowds! It is the first time God walked among men like this since Eden!

Where the Priests Served

The temple was also the place where the priests went to offer sacrifices for all the people once a year. Jesus is a new priest - a high priest that offered himself as a sacrifice once and for all.

Hebrews 7:26–28 CSB

26 For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.

So we have a:

greater presence of God

greater sacrifice for sin

greater priest

Something Greater than Jonah ⚡

Defeating Death

As we mentioned earlier, Jonah almost died after 3 days and was saved from death. Jesus was greater than that because he tasted death and actually conquered it -rising from the dead after 3 days.

Mouthpieces

Prophets were also the mouthpiece of God.

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 CSB

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 I will hold accountable whoever does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name.

They brought a message to people about God and often about repentance.

Jonah was certainly NOT a perfect prophet! Yet God used him to lead an evil people to repentance.

Jesus was not just a mouthpiece of God - he was and is God!

John 14:10 CSB

10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works.

Jesus was certainly a greater prophet! And on top of that, he offers a message of repentance that exceeds that of any other prophet

So we have a:

greater victory over death

greater repentance

greater prophet

Something greater than Solomon ⚡

Wisdom

Solomon was a king - a wealthy and WISE king. I spent a Sunday walking through the scriptures painting the picture of Jesus as Wisdom personified. Solomon was wise - and the Queen of Sheba recognized that. Jesus WAS WISDOM in the flesh and greater than Solomon.

Solomon was also the son of David and a king of Isreal. David was promised that a child of his would sit on the throne of the kingdom forever.

2 Samuel 7:16 CSB

16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”

Solomon was NOT that son.

In the angels message to Mary he said this:

Luke 1:31–33 CSB

31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

That is the promise about Jesus. He is greater than Solomon, even greater than David! Jesus is going to actually quiz the Pharisees about this later on!

Solomon’s reign was marked by peace. His name means “peace” and he ruled without all of the bloodshed that his father David had on his hands. This was one of the reasons Solomon was selected to build the temple. He also had prosperity like no king before or after him. He gave Israel a taste of what Eden was like when God provided and there was an abundance.

Solomon’s kingdom disappeared - but Jesus also represents a greater kingdom - on that is not of this earth and one that is not temporary, but eternal.

So, in relation to Solomon, we have a

greater wisdom

greater peace & prosperity

greater kingdom

THAT is a LOT to take in, but I am sure, even with all of that, there are more layers to uncover in the “something greater than” teachings of Matthew!

Let’s put these together as a visual, shall we? I think that might help us see some connections:

Who Jesus is and what he came to do is greater than the things that came before him. Those were mere shadows that pointed to him:

Colossians 2:17 CSB

17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.

The temple and its rituals are meant to point us to Jesus. The prophets and their messages are meant to point us to Jesus. The monarchy and their leadership are meant to point us to Jesus. ⚡

Jesus is the great Priest, Prophet and King and he established a greater kingdom (eternal), greater forgiveness for sin (once for all) and greater life (victory over death). He was and is the perfect representation of Yahweh, God, as a mediator, mouthpiece and monarch.

As you read and study the NT, you will find that the authors make these connections and more. Jesus was the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament and he is the greatest prophet, priest and king.

We come to him because he has made himself accessible by dying for our sins as our High Priest.

We listen to him because he speaks the very words of the Father.

We follow him because his the righteous King that rules justly from his eternal throne.

And by surrendering our lives to him we get to know him, hear him and serve him which is why he implores us: ⚡

Matthew 11:28–30 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”