Signs
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Context: 11:14. Jesus is accused of casting out demons by some and others, in verse 16, demand signs.
Jesus knows these are insincere requests.
He gives the parable of a strong man, and the unclean spirit that returns (representing mans attempts at morality)
Then he says that the truly blessed will be those who hear the word of God and keep it. Now, continuing from this thought, he returns to the topic of those who demand signs.
If the truly blessed are those who hear the word and keep it, then the truly miserable are those who don’t.
In this category fall those who demand signs.
Yet all the signs were there
Preaching
Healings
Raising from the dead
all of these were confirmations of Jesus’ divinity and divine calling
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.
For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
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.
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.
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.
Crowds increasing: Getting thick, growing
This shows the growing interest in Jesus’ ministry. The large crowds, however, are not indicative of people’s sincerity. Even today, Jesus attracts the insincere. People may have been looking for entertainment, comfort, or simply being part of a community of people engaged in something.
He began to say: Has a little more force than simply “he said”. Luke is pointing out that there is much weight behind what Jesus is saying here.
For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
How did Jonah become a sign to the people of Nineveh?
The bible does not record that Jonah performed miracles in Nineveh, so it is very unlikely this is what Jesus is speaking of.
Jonah’s unique preservation by God through the fish may have been considered a sign of sorts (in Matthew’s account, Jesus mentions that: Matt12.40
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Sproul:
A Walk with God: Luke The Sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29–32)
We often think of Jonah’s being swallowed by the great fish as a punishment by God, but it was not. The punishment was being thrown into the sea. Jonah was rescued from the sea by the fish, who then delivered him safely on the dry ground.
So the sign could be Jonah’s figurative resurrection, and Jesus’ coming resurrection.
Some scholars have thought the sign was the preaching of Jonah and the preaching of Jesus:
Both preached judgment to come.
Those who respond to the message of judgment respond with fear of judgment, godly sorrow for sin and repentance (These are still necessary components today of reconciling with God)
Lenski:
The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel Chapter 11
This is what the sign of Jonah, the resurrection of Jesus, means for this wicked generation: judgment and condemnation at the hands of the glorified Jesus.
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.
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.
She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.
And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom,
but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.
Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
This queen heard about Solomon and his wisdom. She traveled a great way (across the world, or from the ends of the earth, as it would be said at that time)
She came to hear the wisdom of Solomon and then recognized the value of it.
She will rise up and condemn the generation who had Jesus himself, because something greater than Solomon was found in Jesus.
Likewise, the people of Nineveh who repented when Jonah preached a message of God’s wrath to them, will condemn those who had Jesus’ ministry right before them, and yet refused to believe:
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.
Leon Morris:
Luke: An Introduction and Commentary 2. The Sign of Jonah (11:29–32)
If Solomon and Jonah are taken to represent the whole wisdom tradition and the whole prophetic tradition, then
The whole theme of Hebrews is “Jesus is Greater”.
The Book of Hebrews in the Bible emphasizes the supremacy of Jesus Christ, presenting Him as greater than various figures, institutions, and elements from the Old Testament. Here’s a list of what Hebrews claims Jesus is greater than, based on its key themes and comparisons:
The Angels (Hebrews 1:4-14)
Jesus is superior to the angels, having a better name (Son of God) and being worshipped by them. Angels are servants, while Jesus is the divine Son.
Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6)
Jesus is greater than Moses, who was a faithful servant in God’s house, whereas Jesus is the Son over God’s house, holding a higher position of authority and honor.
The Old Testament Priesthood (Hebrews 4:14–5:10, 7:11-28)
Jesus is a high priest "after the order of Melchizedek," surpassing the Levitical priests (descendants of Aaron). Unlike them, He is eternal, sinless, and His priesthood is permanent.
Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-10)
While Melchizedek, a mysterious priest-king, is a type of Christ, Jesus is greater as the fulfillment of that order, living forever and holding an unchangeable priesthood.
The Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:1-13)
Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant, established on better promises, replacing the old covenant given through Moses, which was temporary and imperfect.
The Tabernacle and Temple Sacrifices (Hebrews 9:1-28)
Jesus’ sacrifice surpasses the animal sacrifices of the earthly tabernacle and temple. He entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, offering a once-for-all atonement, unlike the repeated sacrifices of the old system.
The Law (Hebrews 10:1-18)
The Law was a shadow of the good things to come, but Jesus fulfills and surpasses it by providing perfect forgiveness and direct access to God, rendering the old system obsolete.
Joshua (Hebrews 4:8-11)
Joshua led Israel into the physical Promised Land, but Jesus provides a greater, eternal rest—spiritual salvation and peace with God—far exceeding the temporary rest Joshua offered.
why do people say they want more proof, more signs?
They have a hard heart. Regeneration of the heart has not happened.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Those who heard Jesus in person, who witnessed his miracles, who saw the lives he changed, and did not believe did not believe because the Spirit of God had not turned their heart of stone into hearts of flesh.
This is the same reason today that people do not follow Christ, even some who have heard the gospel from the greatest preachers, some who have experienced the love and care of the church, even some who served in the church.
Jesus is greater. Greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon.
Why did the people of Nineveh repent? Partly from fear of destruction, but also, they had a true sorrow over their sin.
And the people of Nineveh had true repentence:
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,
but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
This repentance even included the livestock! Man and Beast were to fast, even from water, and to put on sackcloth, a sign of mourning. What were they mourning? Their sin. Where did this godly sorrow come from?
It did not come from their own hearts. The flesh does not seek the things of God. Only when God changes the heart does this happen. And this is why just a meaningless “I’m sorry” is not sufficient to be saved, but a godly sorrow or grief that leads to repentance.
Paul celebrated when believers demonstrated this godly grief, because it was evidence of God’s transformative power in their lives:
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
A man I know would pray that people would feel this kind of repentance.
Repentance is something granted by God. 2Tim2.24-26
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Peter told the high priest that God is the one who gives repentance:
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
We are saved through faith that is not our own doing, it is the gift of God. The faith to believe is a gift, and the repentance required is a gift also.
So will you be among those rebuked by the men of Nineveh? Will you the Queen of Sheba rebuke you? They had something far less than Jesus, and yet they believed. You have the witness of Jesus, who is superior to all.
May God grant repentance and faith.
