In today’s passage, Jesus has just finished teaching when the Pharisees approach him and ask for a sign. This is just another way of asking their favorite question: “What gives you the authority to teach these things?” They are asking Jesus to prove that God is really with him. Jesus answers that his resurrection shall be a sign, just like Jonah emerging from the whale after three days. The Resurrection of Jesus is a sign to the Pharisees, but it is also a sign to us. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:14 that if Christ is not raised then our faith is in vain. The Resurrection is a sign to us that we can trust in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and do not need to continually look for signs from God to see whether or not he is angry with us.

Matthew 12.38-42

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 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. 41 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. 42 The queen of the South will rise up 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.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Who is asking Jesus for a sign? (V.38) Why do you think they’re asking?

+ Why does Jesus react so strongly against them? (v.39)

+ What is the sign of Jonah? (v. 40)

+ Why does Jesus make a comparison with Nineveh and the queen of the South? (v. 41-42) What do these Gentiles have to do with Jesus’ message?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Do we often forget that we are close to God because of the resurrection of Christ and seek signs to confirm for ourselves our relationship with God?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?