The Desire for Signs
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Matthew 12:38-42
Matthew 12:38-42
a. The request for signs (12:38)
a. The request for signs (12:38)
b. Signs will stand as judgment (12:39-42)
b. Signs will stand as judgment (12:39-42)
1. INTRODUCTION
1. INTRODUCTION
2. BODY
2. BODY
a. The request for signs (12:38)
a. The request for signs (12:38)
i. The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. Again, the context is interesting because Jesus just taught that their mouths will reveal the heart and that the careless word that people speak, they will give an account for them in the day of judgment (12:36). And yet, immediately following, the pharisees ask Jesus for a sign.
i. The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. Again, the context is interesting because Jesus just taught that their mouths will reveal the heart and that the careless word that people speak, they will give an account for them in the day of judgment (12:36). And yet, immediately following, the pharisees ask Jesus for a sign.
ii. They attributed the miraculous work that Jesus performed and ascribed it to Beelzebul. And yet, here the pharisees immediately go after Jesus and ask Him for a sign. They listened to Jesus state this about words, and not want Him to confirm that He truly is of God. They challenge Jesus’s statements and ask Him for a sign.
ii. They attributed the miraculous work that Jesus performed and ascribed it to Beelzebul. And yet, here the pharisees immediately go after Jesus and ask Him for a sign. They listened to Jesus state this about words, and not want Him to confirm that He truly is of God. They challenge Jesus’s statements and ask Him for a sign.
iii. What’s important from this statement is that they are asking Jesus to show them that He really is God. Show us something that we’ve never seen before. They might have seen other people supposedly heal. Again, the story of Moses and the snakes is helpful. People can mimic things even if it isn’t the same or true. But they can fake it and pretend like it’s true.
iii. What’s important from this statement is that they are asking Jesus to show them that He really is God. Show us something that we’ve never seen before. They might have seen other people supposedly heal. Again, the story of Moses and the snakes is helpful. People can mimic things even if it isn’t the same or true. But they can fake it and pretend like it’s true.
iv. So what the pharisees are asking Jesus now is, show us something that we can’t mimic. Show us something that we can’t deny that you are God.
iv. So what the pharisees are asking Jesus now is, show us something that we can’t mimic. Show us something that we can’t deny that you are God.
v. What is also interesting about this request is that, they are asking Jesus to do something that Jesus does not do. Jesus does not perform miracles to show other people that He is God and show off. No, rather, He performs miracles because He is compassionate and there is a need for them. They are asking Him to perform miracles as if He is some type of performer. They are looking at Jesus as if He’s a magic show performer.
v. What is also interesting about this request is that, they are asking Jesus to do something that Jesus does not do. Jesus does not perform miracles to show other people that He is God and show off. No, rather, He performs miracles because He is compassionate and there is a need for them. They are asking Him to perform miracles as if He is some type of performer. They are looking at Jesus as if He’s a magic show performer.
vi. We see all types of magic shows and people can do all types of illusions. It’s common today just as it was common in the days of Jesus. People did all types of shows and performed shows to make money. They were asking Jesus, put on a show for us to prove to us that you are really God. They were telling Jesus that He had to show evidence for them to believe. It is as if evidence can bring about true saving faith.
vi. We see all types of magic shows and people can do all types of illusions. It’s common today just as it was common in the days of Jesus. People did all types of shows and performed shows to make money. They were asking Jesus, put on a show for us to prove to us that you are really God. They were telling Jesus that He had to show evidence for them to believe. It is as if evidence can bring about true saving faith.
vii. I do want us to consider though these requests for Jesus to perform signs is not new. When we go back to Matthew 4:3-7, we saw this previously. In Matthew 4, Satan requests Jesus to also show that He was God. He says to Jesus, If you are the Son of God, make these stones bread. Then He tempts Jesus and says to Him, throw Yourself down and have them bear you up.
vii. I do want us to consider though these requests for Jesus to perform signs is not new. When we go back to Matthew 4:3-7, we saw this previously. In Matthew 4, Satan requests Jesus to also show that He was God. He says to Jesus, If you are the Son of God, make these stones bread. Then He tempts Jesus and says to Him, throw Yourself down and have them bear you up.
viii. Again, these events reveal to us that this was not new to Jesus. People have been saying these types of things and it’s no different today. I remember when I was a young believer, I would say to Jesus, if you are there, if you are listening, show me that you are alive. We demand these things as if God must listen to us. This is no different than the Pharisees demanding this from Jesus.
viii. Again, these events reveal to us that this was not new to Jesus. People have been saying these types of things and it’s no different today. I remember when I was a young believer, I would say to Jesus, if you are there, if you are listening, show me that you are alive. We demand these things as if God must listen to us. This is no different than the Pharisees demanding this from Jesus.
b. Signs will stand as judgment (12:39-42)
b. Signs will stand as judgment (12:39-42)
i. So Jesus responds in verse 39, An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign. Jesus calls them evil again, just as He spoke about the evil that comes from the heart and as He called them in verse 34, You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? Of course you will ask for a sign because you are evil. But the only sign you will receive is the sign of Jonah the prophet.
i. So Jesus responds in verse 39, An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign. Jesus calls them evil again, just as He spoke about the evil that comes from the heart and as He called them in verse 34, You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? Of course you will ask for a sign because you are evil. But the only sign you will receive is the sign of Jonah the prophet.
ii. So what is the sign of Jonah the prophet? Verse 40, Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jesus tells them that there would be no sign. The only sign you would see would be the same thing the people on the boat saw when they threw Jonah off of the boat. They witnessed him die and in the same way, you would see nothing. The only thing you would see is that the Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
ii. So what is the sign of Jonah the prophet? Verse 40, Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jesus tells them that there would be no sign. The only sign you would see would be the same thing the people on the boat saw when they threw Jonah off of the boat. They witnessed him die and in the same way, you would see nothing. The only thing you would see is that the Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
iii. But also, Jesus doesn’t end there. Just as Jonah was spit up from the fish, Jesus makes the claim that He too, would be released from death. All the people who saw Jonah in the water, assumed he was dead. In the same way, when the people see Jesus dead, they will assume that He is dead. But just as Jonah was released from death, Jesus too, will rise from the dead.
iii. But also, Jesus doesn’t end there. Just as Jonah was spit up from the fish, Jesus makes the claim that He too, would be released from death. All the people who saw Jonah in the water, assumed he was dead. In the same way, when the people see Jesus dead, they will assume that He is dead. But just as Jonah was released from death, Jesus too, will rise from the dead.
iv. Not only that, in verse 41, Jesus says that the men of Ninevah will stand up with this generation in judgment and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. What is Jesus saying here? Well if we remember the story of Jonah, after Jonah was spit up from the sea monster (Jonah 2:10), the word of the Lord goes to Jonah a second time (3:1) and tells him to arise and go to Ninevah and proclaim the proclamation which God is going to tell him (3:2). So Jonah arose this time and went to Nineveh, and started to cry out that in 40 days, Ninevah will be overthrown (3:4). It was at that moment, when they heard this preaching, Ninevah believed in God and they repented and they fasted (3:5-10).
iv. Not only that, in verse 41, Jesus says that the men of Ninevah will stand up with this generation in judgment and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. What is Jesus saying here? Well if we remember the story of Jonah, after Jonah was spit up from the sea monster (Jonah 2:10), the word of the Lord goes to Jonah a second time (3:1) and tells him to arise and go to Ninevah and proclaim the proclamation which God is going to tell him (3:2). So Jonah arose this time and went to Nineveh, and started to cry out that in 40 days, Ninevah will be overthrown (3:4). It was at that moment, when they heard this preaching, Ninevah believed in God and they repented and they fasted (3:5-10).
v. The point of Jesus’s statement was that a pagan nation like Nineveh repented, and yet, the Jews, the most religious group of all the people, the Pharisees and scribes, those who knew and studied the Law of God, they would not believe. Therefore, they would face condemnation. Being the people of God, they reject Jesus and His teaching. And yet, the Ninevites would repent when they heard God speak through Jonah. Because they believed, they would condemn the Jews for their unbelief.
v. The point of Jesus’s statement was that a pagan nation like Nineveh repented, and yet, the Jews, the most religious group of all the people, the Pharisees and scribes, those who knew and studied the Law of God, they would not believe. Therefore, they would face condemnation. Being the people of God, they reject Jesus and His teaching. And yet, the Ninevites would repent when they heard God speak through Jonah. Because they believed, they would condemn the Jews for their unbelief.
vi. So when Jesus says here, that something greater than Jonah is here, He means that God’s whole work in Jesus, the sending of His son, the provision that God makes for sinners, the bringing of the kingdom, is greater than the preaching of the condemnation that Jonah proclaimed. And yet, their unbelief signaled that they were guilty of something more serious than the Ninevites. Jesus is far greater than Jonah, and yet Ninevah repents and the Jews don’t.
vi. So when Jesus says here, that something greater than Jonah is here, He means that God’s whole work in Jesus, the sending of His son, the provision that God makes for sinners, the bringing of the kingdom, is greater than the preaching of the condemnation that Jonah proclaimed. And yet, their unbelief signaled that they were guilty of something more serious than the Ninevites. Jesus is far greater than Jonah, and yet Ninevah repents and the Jews don’t.
vii. Jesus continues on this logic of greater with the story of King Solomon and the Queen of the South. The Queen of the South is the Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon in 1 Kings 10:1-10. We know from this story that she came from a distant land with great wealth and heard of the great wisdom of Solomon. So when she had the opportunity to talk with Solomon, she asked him questions and it says in 10:3, that Solomon answered all her questions, that nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.
vii. Jesus continues on this logic of greater with the story of King Solomon and the Queen of the South. The Queen of the South is the Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon in 1 Kings 10:1-10. We know from this story that she came from a distant land with great wealth and heard of the great wisdom of Solomon. So when she had the opportunity to talk with Solomon, she asked him questions and it says in 10:3, that Solomon answered all her questions, that nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.
1. Solomon thoroughly answered all her questions that she saw for herself, not just hearing it from others, that he had great wisdom and states this in 1 Kings 10:6.
1. Solomon thoroughly answered all her questions that she saw for herself, not just hearing it from others, that he had great wisdom and states this in 1 Kings 10:6.
2. Why was this story more impressive than the previous story? Because unlike the Ninevites and Jonah, Jonah went to them and preached the proclamation to them. But with the Queen of Sheba, she came to visit Solomon because of all the wonderful things she had heard. She traveled a far distance to hear his answers, and after hearing, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, she too, responds by believing and accepting Solomon’s wisdom.
2. Why was this story more impressive than the previous story? Because unlike the Ninevites and Jonah, Jonah went to them and preached the proclamation to them. But with the Queen of Sheba, she came to visit Solomon because of all the wonderful things she had heard. She traveled a far distance to hear his answers, and after hearing, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, she too, responds by believing and accepting Solomon’s wisdom.
3. Solomon provided proverbial wisdom for her but his wisdom is nothing in comparison to the wisdom of God. The Queen of Sheba heard this wisdom and was convinced that what she heard of him was true, and yet, the Pharisees saw the wisdom of God and could not believe.
3. Solomon provided proverbial wisdom for her but his wisdom is nothing in comparison to the wisdom of God. The Queen of Sheba heard this wisdom and was convinced that what she heard of him was true, and yet, the Pharisees saw the wisdom of God and could not believe.
viii. What’s beautiful about this statement though is, even in the midst of condemnation, there is a glorious truth in this statement that Jesus makes. Jesus makes it clear that although they would face condemnation, similar to the story of Jonah, and the story of the Queen of Sheba, Gentiles would hear the Gospel and come to repent of their sins. Well it’s no different in the ministry of Jesus. Through His ministry, God would redeem not only the Jews, but the Gentiles as well.
viii. What’s beautiful about this statement though is, even in the midst of condemnation, there is a glorious truth in this statement that Jesus makes. Jesus makes it clear that although they would face condemnation, similar to the story of Jonah, and the story of the Queen of Sheba, Gentiles would hear the Gospel and come to repent of their sins. Well it’s no different in the ministry of Jesus. Through His ministry, God would redeem not only the Jews, but the Gentiles as well.
ix. This is what makes the Gospel so amazing. It’s that God speaks to His people. But this section of Scripture reminds us what is happening today. I’ve heard often from unbelievers that if they were around during Jesus’ time, that they think they could believe because they could see the miracles with their own eyes. And I responded to them by telling them, that they wouldn’t believe. Why do I say this? Because there were many people during Jesus’ time that saw His miracles, look at the Pharisees, and yet, they didn’t believe.
ix. This is what makes the Gospel so amazing. It’s that God speaks to His people. But this section of Scripture reminds us what is happening today. I’ve heard often from unbelievers that if they were around during Jesus’ time, that they think they could believe because they could see the miracles with their own eyes. And I responded to them by telling them, that they wouldn’t believe. Why do I say this? Because there were many people during Jesus’ time that saw His miracles, look at the Pharisees, and yet, they didn’t believe.
x. Again, our belief is not based on evidence. It is not that we have come to believe because we’ve seen enough evidence. No, it is the miraculous work of God. There is no amount of evidence that will allow us to believe. God must work in our hearts and bring about the new heart. Apart from that inner working of the heart, we are all evil. We will never believe. But through His kindness and mercy, we are able to believe. This should cause us to worship Him and thank Him.
x. Again, our belief is not based on evidence. It is not that we have come to believe because we’ve seen enough evidence. No, it is the miraculous work of God. There is no amount of evidence that will allow us to believe. God must work in our hearts and bring about the new heart. Apart from that inner working of the heart, we are all evil. We will never believe. But through His kindness and mercy, we are able to believe. This should cause us to worship Him and thank Him.
xi. If we think that we will believe in God because of evidence, there’s enough evidence in the word of God for you to believe. God’s Word is the final word for salvation. If you can’t believe in the word of God, something that you can see, there is no way you can believe in God, someone you can’t see. Please read your Word.
xi. If we think that we will believe in God because of evidence, there’s enough evidence in the word of God for you to believe. God’s Word is the final word for salvation. If you can’t believe in the word of God, something that you can see, there is no way you can believe in God, someone you can’t see. Please read your Word.
3. CONCLUSION
3. CONCLUSION
