More Signs

Jonah and Jesus

Luke 11:27–36 ESV

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” 29 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. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 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. 32 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. 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Introduction & Context

Jesus has just cast out a demon (Luke 11:14–26), leading to mixed reactions:

Some marvel.

Some accuse Him of working by Satan's power.

Others demand another sign from heaven.

This passage addresses three spiritual dangers:

Mistaking outward religion for true discipleship.

Constantly demanding more evidence instead of responding to what God has already revealed.

Allowing spiritual darkness to cloud one's entire life.

"Blessed Are Those Who Hear the Word of God"

Theme: True blessedness is found in hearing and obeying God's Word, recognizing Jesus as the greater revelation of God, and living with spiritual clarity.

Hearers and Doers of the Word

Luke 11:27–28 ESV

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

blessed are those who hear and do

A. The Woman's Praise

A woman praises Mary because she gave birth to Jesus.

This was natural in Jewish culture.

She assumes Jesus' greatness reflects Mary's blessedness.

B. Jesus Redirects the Conversation

Jesus does not diminish Mary.

Instead, He expands the definition of blessing.

True blessedness is not merely being biologically related to Jesus.

It is hearing God's Word and obeying it.

Reformed Insight

John Calvin

"Christ teaches that obedience to God is the highest honor that can belong to anyone."

Calvin notes that Mary's greatest blessing was not motherhood alone but her faithful obedience (Luke 1:38).

Jonah and Jesus and SIgns

Luke 11:29–32 ESV

29 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. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 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. 32 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.

Jonah to Ninevah

Jesus to the world and eternity

A. An Evil Generation Wants Signs

The crowds wanted another miracle.

Jesus calls this spiritual unbelief.

They already had sufficient evidence.

The problem wasn't lack of proof.

It was hardness of heart.

B. The Sign of Jonah

Luke emphasizes Jonah's preaching rather than the fish.

Jonah himself became God's sign to Nineveh.

Jesus becomes God's final sign to the world.

Matthew also connects Jonah's three days with Jesus' resurrection.

Together the Gospels show both themes:

Jesus' preaching

Jesus' resurrection

C. Greater Than Jonah

Jonah reluctantly preached.

Jesus willingly came.

Jonah preached judgment.

Jesus offers salvation.

Jonah was a sinful prophet.

Jesus is the sinless Son of God.

D. Greater Than Solomon

People traveled hundreds of miles to hear Solomon's wisdom.

Now infinite Wisdom stands before them.

Yet many reject Him.

Luke, Vol. 2—That You May Know the Truth The Great Sign

The Great Sign

Jesus declared that he would be like Jonah to them—that was the sign. How was this so? Obviously both Jonah and Jesus were preachers of righteousness and repentance. But the deeper significance of “the sign of Jonah” is in Jonah’s putative death, burial, and resurrection when he was tossed to his apparent death in the sea, entombed in the fish, and then delivered up alive

Christ Death Burial and Resurrection

Matthew 12:40 “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.”

Luke, Vol. 2—That You May Know the Truth The Great Sign

The great and grand sign that Jesus gives to all, and especially those who think they need miraculous signs in order to believe, is the miracle of his atoning death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. This is the gospel. This is apostolic preaching. Paul capsulized it by writing: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (

Bruce almighty. . Evan Almighty (Show me a sign). . . Signs are there. All around us.

Are we paying attention to the signs. Are our neighbors able to see the signs.

Queen of the South- Queen Sheba. She was unsaved just like everyone else in Jonahs day. However, unlike the men of the town… she seeks the wisdom of Solomon and hears the Good news… and changes course.

Luke: An Introduction and Commentary 2. The Sign of Jonah (11:29–32)

In a day of male supremacy the use of the term andrōn for men, rather than the more general anthrōpōn (which might mean human beings), is probably important.

Quote — R.C. Sproul

"The greatest evidence God has ever given the world is His Son."

Be Light

Luke 11:33–36 ESV

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Bruce Lee- taught in martial arts to be like the water, Just flow. Movements and in life.

Jesus teaches to Be light. Shine Bright