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Matthew Chapter 12 Seeking a Sign

by Paul George  
7/10/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 12:38-45

"Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you'" (Matthew 12:38 WEB).
The addition here of the scribes may suggest an official inquiry. Jesus has spoken some powerful words and has stepped on the toes of the religious leaders. They wanted to know what or who gave Jesus the right to do and say what He is doing and saying.

There is also a second reason for seeking a sign. The Jews believed that when God sent the Messiah He would send a forerunner and the Messiah's appearing would be preceded by spectacular signs.

If casting a demon out of a man who was blind and mute, was not a spectacular sign that should convince them Jesus was the Messiah, what would; would fire falling from the sky convince. Would an army of angels slinging lightening bolts down upon the earth convince the scribes and Pharisees? This request opened a door Jesus would not walk through. Just as He would prove to Satan He was the Son of God He is not going to give to those who not believe whatever He did that He was the Messiah. If the truth were known they would say the same thing they said when Jesus cast the demon from the blind mute.

Note what Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:39-42 WEB).

Because it was an evil and adulterous generation the scribes and Pharisees were unable to understand the moral teachings of Jesus and the life He lived; they could not recognize both were from God. They could not see the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus were the greatest sign of all, a sign that has come down through the ages to the present generation. All the proof the scribes and Pharisees need to verify Jesus is the Messiah they have witnessed.

The spiritual blindness of the scribes and Pharisees that clouded their physical sight was due in part with the altering of the Law of God. The altering of the Law and their interpretations of Scripture that lacked Scriptural support led to unbelief and unfaithfulness. Through unbelief and unfaithfulness they forsake the true God in their hearts, and refusing to believe unless He did things their way. The demanding of signs is evidence the scribes and Pharisees are in a state of unbelief.

Because the minds of the scribes and Pharisees is filled with darkness and they will not come to the light Jesus tells them He will give them no sign will be given them but the sign Jonah the prophet. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees seeking a sign just as Jonah was in the belly of a sea monster for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:39-40).

The reason why Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster was disobedience. The reason why Jesus will spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth is disobedience. However there is a difference, Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster because of his disobedience; Jesus will spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth because of the disobedience of humanity.

Jonah was called by God to preach in godless Nineveh, but he tried to avoid the task and ended up in the belly of the sea monster. In the belly of the sea monster Jonah learned a lesson no other experience in life could teach him; it pays to obey God. What did Jonah do after the sea monster spit him out; he obeyed God.

There is three very important points in verse forty-one we do not want to overlook. The first is the response of people of Nineveh; they repented in sackcloth and ashes, a sign of their repentance. The second is they will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it. The third is this generation is rejecting the one that is greater than Jonah.
In verse forty-two there are three very important points we do not want to overlook. The first is the Queen of the South came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The second is she will rise up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it. The third is this generation is rejecting the wisdom of one greater than Solomon.
This should be a warning to us. There is a great consequence attached to the rejecting of Jesus Christ.

This brings us to the sign the scribes and Pharisees requested. Since they are spiritually blinded they can not see it and will reject it when they see it. The sign is in verse forty. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster and came out of the monster on the third day, Jesus will be in the tomb and will come out on the third day. What is the sign He has the authority to say and do what He is doing; His death, burial, and resurrection.

What did Jesus tell this generation? He said the men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South will condemn it. What we must not overlook is on the day of judgment there will be One greater than Jonah and the Queen of the South judging all generations. It is important that we are prepared to stand with white garments before the One who is greater than all the judges of history.

Jesus closes the subject concerning the giving of a sign with an illustration that appears out of order. Jesus is using the casting out of the demon in the blind mute to get across the predicament the scribes, Pharisees, and the people who reject are in. Jesus will compare this generation He has been addressing to a man who has been cleansed of an unclean spirit.

Read very carefully what Jesus said, "But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn't find it. Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out,' and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first'" (Matthew 12:43-45 WEB).

Like the man in verse 22 this man has been healed. He has been made clean but the unclean spirit wanders in waterless places seeking rest. However, there is not rest for unclean spirits. Unable to find rest the unclean spirit said he will return to the house he came out; the house is the man the unclean spirit was cast out. When he returns to the house he finds it empty. The Spirit of God that cast the unclean spirit out of the house is no longer in the house. Note the unclean spirit does move into the house; he goes and finds seven spirits worse than him and the unclean spirit and the seven other unclean spirits move into the empty house. Now the man is worse off than he was before the unclean spirit was cast out.

There is a lesson in the illustration the scribes and Pharisees will not learn. Because of their rejection of Jesus the people will experience a state of bondage far worse being under the yoke of the Roman Empire. History will prove what Jesus is revealing in this illustration was fulfilled and is being fulfilled.

What can we learn from this illustration? Look, listen, pay attention; what do you see and hear. The evil and wickedness in the world and our nation is exceeding the evil and wickedness in the days of Noah and Lot. Why is this happening?

Learn the lesson taught in the casting out of the unclean spirit and his return to the house he was cast out with seven spirits worse than him.

When an unclean spirit has been cast from your heart, when he returns and he will, if the Holy Spirit is not dwelling in the house you will fall into a worse state than you were in prior to the driving out of the unclean spirit.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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