The Parable of the Sign of Jonah: Matthew 12:38-42 and Luke 11:29-32
by Owen Borville
July 12, 2019
Bible
The Parable of the Sign of Jonah is recorded in Matthew Chapter 12 and verses 38-42 and Luke 11:29-32. As some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus to give them a sign of his authenticity and his message, he told this parable, which references the Old Testament account of the Prophet Jonah.
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:38-42.
As Jesus told this parable, he predicted his Crucifiction and Resurrection. He also compared the people of Nineveh to the people of that time in the Holy Land. The people of Nineveh had become rebellious and worthy of judgement and therefore Jonah was sent to preach to them. Jonah was able to convince the Ninevites to repent once but later they fell back into sin. Just as judgement was promised to the people of Nineveh, judgement was also preached to the people of Israel during Jesus' time. When Jonah came out, he was stronger than ever and was ready to preach to the people, just as when Jesus was resurrected, he was stronger in his spiritual body.
The Pharisees, Religious teachers, and the Majority of the People of Israel simply did not believe Jesus and his message. Only a few faithful followers existed as Christianity was in its infancy. The Israelites simply wanted a military Messiah that would smack the Romans and return and reclaim the ancestral homeland under Jewish control. However, Jesus insisted that the people accept him in spirit first and then all other wishes would be granted. Until the Israelites accepted Jesus as Messiah and Lord along with his message, he would not do much of anything for them. Jesus explains that even the people of Nineveh, the Assyrians, were willing to repent in the presence of a lesser prophet but the nation of Israel was not willing to repent in front of the Messiah and Son of God. Their lack of faith was the reason that Jesus did not do as many miraculous works in their presence, while at the same time performing many miracles of healing to those who believed.
by Owen Borville
July 12, 2019
Bible
The Parable of the Sign of Jonah is recorded in Matthew Chapter 12 and verses 38-42 and Luke 11:29-32. As some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus to give them a sign of his authenticity and his message, he told this parable, which references the Old Testament account of the Prophet Jonah.
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:38-42.
As Jesus told this parable, he predicted his Crucifiction and Resurrection. He also compared the people of Nineveh to the people of that time in the Holy Land. The people of Nineveh had become rebellious and worthy of judgement and therefore Jonah was sent to preach to them. Jonah was able to convince the Ninevites to repent once but later they fell back into sin. Just as judgement was promised to the people of Nineveh, judgement was also preached to the people of Israel during Jesus' time. When Jonah came out, he was stronger than ever and was ready to preach to the people, just as when Jesus was resurrected, he was stronger in his spiritual body.
The Pharisees, Religious teachers, and the Majority of the People of Israel simply did not believe Jesus and his message. Only a few faithful followers existed as Christianity was in its infancy. The Israelites simply wanted a military Messiah that would smack the Romans and return and reclaim the ancestral homeland under Jewish control. However, Jesus insisted that the people accept him in spirit first and then all other wishes would be granted. Until the Israelites accepted Jesus as Messiah and Lord along with his message, he would not do much of anything for them. Jesus explains that even the people of Nineveh, the Assyrians, were willing to repent in the presence of a lesser prophet but the nation of Israel was not willing to repent in front of the Messiah and Son of God. Their lack of faith was the reason that Jesus did not do as many miraculous works in their presence, while at the same time performing many miracles of healing to those who believed.
