TEXT: Matthew 12:38-45 – 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”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. 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. 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. 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.”
We are studying Chapter 12. You notice that there is a section – verses 15-21 that I skipped over in this topic. No, I am not leaving them out, we will at them starting tomorrow. They deal with Jesus fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah where He predicted the earthly ministry of the Messiah.
One thing was true of Jesus’ ministry – it was not without conflict. He was constantly being challenged by the religious leaders of His day. He elevated the Word of God over the traditions of men. We are looking at three separate occasions where Jesus is confronted by these Pharisees.
We end this discussion with what I call the Sign Conflict in verses 38-45. The Pharisees demand that Jesus do something spectacular just for them
In response, Jesus refers them to Jonah and Nineveh. He goes back to their own Scriptural account to bring them the illustration from the life of the prophet (verse 38-40). He reminds them about Jonah’s time in the belly of the great fish and tells them this will depict His death and resurrection. This is the only sign He will give them.
Their indictment comes from the lips of the people of Nineveh (verse 41). The Ninevites will someday condemn Jesus’ generation because they repented at Jonah’s preaching. And yet, Jesus is greater than Jonah.
Jesus then refers to Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (verse 42). She will condemn Jesus’ generation because she had great respect for Solomon. And again, Jesus is greater than Solomon.
Jesus refers to eight evil spirits (verses 43-45). He equates His present generation to that of a demon-possessed man. He gives the first state of the man (verse 43) – the demon living in him departs. However, He then gives the final state of the man (verse 44-45). The demon was unable to find another person to indwell. So, the demon comes back bringing seven more demons more wicked with him.
This is a picture of those depending upon self-reformation are pictured here. Those Pharisees believed that they were able to reform themselves enough for God’s acceptance. We are never able to “turn over a new leaf’ and make ourselves acceptable to God.
Today, I plead with you – make sure that you have received Jesus as your personal Savior. We are not saved by our works, but by the Grace of God. It is by faith that we receive that Grace.
Have you?
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