Here’s Your Sign

People Seek for Evidence to Believe, Matthew 12:38-45

The Pharisees asked for a sign

Matthew 12:38 NKJV

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

Jesus gave them a sign…

Matthew 12:39 NKJV

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

…and a sermon

Matthew 12:40 NKJV

40 For 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.

Jonah was dead (for all intents and purposes)

How long can you be underwater and live?

How likely are you to be eaten by a giant predator and live?

Jonah returned to life three days and nights later

Jesus would die

Jesus would return to life three days and nights later

Jesus’ resurrection did not accomplish salvation it was the sign salvation had been accomplished.

…and a statement of judgment

Matthew 12:41–42 NKJV

41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

From the people of Nineveh

They believed Jonah’s message enough to repent…but why?

Jonah 3:1–5 NKJV

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. 4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

From the Queen of Sheba

She believed Solomon’s wisdom enough to travel…but why?

1 Kings 10:1–2 NKJV

1 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. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.

…and a reverse parable

We think of a parable as an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning. Jesus here gives them a spiritual story with an earthly meaning.

Matthew 12:43–45 NKJV

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

The moral reformation that took place under the teaching of John the baptist and then Jesus “cleaned” the hearers but did nothing to fill them. Their latter state would be worse than the first.

Removing sin was not enough, people needed to insert righteousness, which they had not done.

Jesus Seeks for Evidence of Belief, Matthew 12:46-50

Matthew 12:46–50 NKJV

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

The spiritual bonds that tie the converted together are stronger and “realer” than the physical bonds that tie people together.

Conclusion