The Sign of Jonah

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Psalm 78:1–4 “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”

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Reading

Matthew 12:38–45 ESV

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 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. 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. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Sermon

Parrallel Passages: Luke 11:24-26; Luke 11:29-36;

Context

Demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

A Tree in Known by its Fruit

The Sign of Jonah

Matthew 12:38 ESV

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

They were saying that the miracles of Jesus weren’t enough to prove the work of the Holy Spirit

It was insulting and impudent

Jesus teaching has been affirmed by miracles

Accompanied by sympathy, love, grace for lost sinners

So often people, like the pharasees, demand a sign from God

Matthew 12:39–40 ESV

But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 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.

They wanted to curb Jesus’ influence among the people

They had failed to destroy him with their prior attempt, and were humiliated

Idiomatic Interpretation - 3rd day

Matthew 12:41 ESV

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.

Less enlighted people obeyed less enlightened preaching

Matthew 12:42 ESV

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Queen of Sheba (South)

She had traveled a difficult journey (1200 miles)

She gave treasures of enormous wealth

she had merely heard reports of Solomon’s wisdom

she hadn’t had an invite

Jesus’ wisdom was greater than Solomon’s

they had easy access, and he was not far off

he had provided an invite

She came yet they refuse

Return of an Unclean Spirit

Matthew 12:43–45 ESV

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Jesus is not focusing a lesson on demonology

He is speaking about “this wicked generation”

God demands the entire devotion of the heart (Deuteronomy)

The Pharasees charge Jesus with belink linked with Satan

Jesus answer that they, and their followers, resemble a man who is repossessed by no less than 8 demons

their doctrine leaves people in a state worse than they started with

What is clear from what Jesus speaks of is the need for repentance

and to be filled with the Holy Spirit

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Closing Prayer

Doxology