Matthew 12:38-42
Then some of the
scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from
you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks
for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the
prophet Jonah. 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 arise 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. The queen of the South
will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came
from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something
greater than Solomon is here.
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What would the Lord
Jesus say about our generation? Jesus gave a rather stern warning to his
generation when they demanded a sign from him. It was characteristic of the
Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's messengers to authenticate
their claims. Jesus faulted them for one thing: spiritual adultery. The
image of adultery was often used in the scriptures for describing apostasy or
infidelity towards God. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof
for his claims, he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they
need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites
recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented. And the
Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon. Jonah was God's sign and his
message was the message of God for the people of Nineveh. Unfortunately the
religious leaders were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes.
They had rejected the message of John the Baptist and now they reject Jesus as God's
Anointed One (Messiah) and they fail to heed his message. Simeon had
prophesied at Jesus' birth that he was "destined for the falling and
rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that inner
thoughts of many will be revealed." Jesus confirmed his message with
many miracles in preparation for the greatest sign of all – his
resurrection on the third day.
The Lord Jesus
through the gift of his Holy Spirit offers us freedom from sin and ignorance
and he gives us wisdom and understanding so that we may grow in knowledge of
God and his ways. Do you thirst for God and for the wisdom which comes from
above? James the Apostle says that the wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without
uncertainty or insincerity. A double-minded person cannot
receive this kind of wisdom. If we wish to be wise in God's ways, then we must
humble ourselves before him, like attentive students who wish to learn, and
submit our heart and mind to his will for our lives. The single of heart and
mind desire one thing alone – God who is the source of all wisdom, goodness,
truth, and knowledge. Do you wish to be wise and loving as God is wise and
loving? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the wisdom which comes from above
and to free your heart from all that would hinder God's loving action in your
life.
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"Lord Jesus,
fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may grow in wisdom and knowledge of your
love and truth. Free me from stubborn pride and wilfulness that I may wholly
desire to do what is pleasing to you."
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