Matthew 12:38-42 (NKJV)
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.
During Jesus earthly ministry, He performed countless of miracles, as a sign and proof that He is the Messiah mentioned in the old Testament, yet despite the many miracles the religious leaders at that time still wants a heavenly signs to prove Jesus claim of being the Messiah or Savior.
How ironic, that the religious people at that time, who keep the word of God, who knew all about the coming Messiah didn't believe in Jesus supernatural miracles, the signs and wonders he performed.
Some of the scribes and Pharisees have seen Jesus performed miracles and heard about His teaching yet they refused to believe.
This is the first instance, that some members of the religious groups (Scribes and Pharisees) demanded a sign to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. The second time was mentioned in Matthew 16:1.
God uses miracles as a sign to validate His chosen messenger or prophet.
In the old testament, God sent down fire from heaven that consumed Elijah's offering and altar (1 Kings 18: 36-39). God provided Moses miraculous signs (Plagues) to free the Israelite from the Egyptians (Exodus)
The Apostle Paul in the new testament, performed miraculous sign, when he raised the dead in (Acts 20:7-12)
Jesus knew their heart and motives despite their kind and respectful request, to show them sign from heaven.
In Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
Jesus used two familiar story from the old testament
Jesus didn't grant their request at that time, but a sign will be given similar to what happened to Jonah.
Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of big fish which was a miracle by God (Jonah 1:17). Jonah was saved from drowning at the sea and also he was redirected to his calling, to preach to the people of Nineveh. It was indeed a great miracle for Jonah to be alive after 3 days in the fish's belly.
Scientifically you will die inside the stomach of any animals not only for lack of oxygen but the stomach acid that will dissolve even bones.
A similar miracle that from Jonah that Jesus will reveal later on, That is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ "Son of Man", and it will be the greatest sign from heaven.
Jesus died on Friday was buried in a limestone tomb made of rock hewn from the side of a cave, a large underground chamber "heart of the earth", three days after, on Sunday, He rose from the grave.
When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah's warning of their coming destruction they believe Jonah's message and put their faith in God by fasting and praying. When the message brought to the king, he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes, the king also created a decree that all people including animals should fast and pray as well (Jonah 3: 6-7)
People of Nineveh believe in Jonah's message and the God of Israel despite the lack of knowledge and understanding, in comparison with the Scribes and Pharisees in Jesus time, A chosen people by God and have a deep understanding about God in knowledge and practice, and eye witness of Jesus's supernatural miracles, yet didn't believe in Jesus, who is greater than Jonah.
The queen of Sheba from a very far kingdom visited the wisest King in History, Solomon just to hear his words of wisdom. The queen recognizes that Solomon is a great king and his wisdom is a gift of God.
Jesus Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords and Prophet of prophets, He is the source of prophecy and wisdom.
In Application:
1. How many miraculous signs do we need to experience before we believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah or Savior, that the old testament is referring to?
Every book in the bible, from Genesis to Revelation points to a single theme Jesus Christ finished worked the "Gospel"
Most of the time, we criticized for the things that we actually don't know? Like the bible, the Christians, etc. If we only study and understand scripture then we will see a different truth that the world can't understand. So instead being a critical about the bible, get hands-on, study and research about the bible to know the truth.
I remember a story about a man, who saw a person Snorkeling at the shallow water of the sea. The wondered why waste time looking down at the bottom of the sea? The looker begun to asked questions and the person snorkeling said, "I'm seeing amazing things" pertaining to fish and corals.
The moral of the story, if don't get wet and dive underwater then we will not see the real beauty of the sea, the corals, variety of fish and other marine life. We have to get wet, hands-on, dive or snorkel to see the real beauty of sea.
The same moral we can apply in God's word the bible, if we're only looking at the believer's life, we're just looking at the cover of the bible, the beauty, majesty and power of triune God is revealed if we study and apply it in our lives.
If we want to experience that, we have get hands-on and not just on-looker.
2. Are the miracles we see daily not enough as a proof that God even exists?
1. The moment we wake up each morning is a genuine and marvelous miracle.
2. The free air that we breath every second, imagine if God will turn it off for a couple of minutes what will happen to us?
3. A single cell from both parents will develop into a baby inside the womb of the mother, such a complex process and perfect timing and order are involved.
4. The earth rotates on its own axis every single second, imagine the earth shift it's axis?
5. Other endless miracles daily....
If you're struggling today with unbelief about some truths of the bible, then pray about it, ask your local pastors, research online resources to help you and encourage to believe in Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
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.
During Jesus earthly ministry, He performed countless of miracles, as a sign and proof that He is the Messiah mentioned in the old Testament, yet despite the many miracles the religious leaders at that time still wants a heavenly signs to prove Jesus claim of being the Messiah or Savior.
How ironic, that the religious people at that time, who keep the word of God, who knew all about the coming Messiah didn't believe in Jesus supernatural miracles, the signs and wonders he performed.
Some of the scribes and Pharisees have seen Jesus performed miracles and heard about His teaching yet they refused to believe.
This is the first instance, that some members of the religious groups (Scribes and Pharisees) demanded a sign to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. The second time was mentioned in Matthew 16:1.
God uses miracles as a sign to validate His chosen messenger or prophet.
In the old testament, God sent down fire from heaven that consumed Elijah's offering and altar (1 Kings 18: 36-39). God provided Moses miraculous signs (Plagues) to free the Israelite from the Egyptians (Exodus)
The Apostle Paul in the new testament, performed miraculous sign, when he raised the dead in (Acts 20:7-12)
Jesus knew their heart and motives despite their kind and respectful request, to show them sign from heaven.
In Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
Jesus used two familiar story from the old testament
Jesus didn't grant their request at that time, but a sign will be given similar to what happened to Jonah.
Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of big fish which was a miracle by God (Jonah 1:17). Jonah was saved from drowning at the sea and also he was redirected to his calling, to preach to the people of Nineveh. It was indeed a great miracle for Jonah to be alive after 3 days in the fish's belly.
Scientifically you will die inside the stomach of any animals not only for lack of oxygen but the stomach acid that will dissolve even bones.
A similar miracle that from Jonah that Jesus will reveal later on, That is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ "Son of Man", and it will be the greatest sign from heaven.
Jesus died on Friday was buried in a limestone tomb made of rock hewn from the side of a cave, a large underground chamber "heart of the earth", three days after, on Sunday, He rose from the grave.
When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah's warning of their coming destruction they believe Jonah's message and put their faith in God by fasting and praying. When the message brought to the king, he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes, the king also created a decree that all people including animals should fast and pray as well (Jonah 3: 6-7)
People of Nineveh believe in Jonah's message and the God of Israel despite the lack of knowledge and understanding, in comparison with the Scribes and Pharisees in Jesus time, A chosen people by God and have a deep understanding about God in knowledge and practice, and eye witness of Jesus's supernatural miracles, yet didn't believe in Jesus, who is greater than Jonah.
The queen of Sheba from a very far kingdom visited the wisest King in History, Solomon just to hear his words of wisdom. The queen recognizes that Solomon is a great king and his wisdom is a gift of God.
Jesus Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords and Prophet of prophets, He is the source of prophecy and wisdom.
In Application:
1. How many miraculous signs do we need to experience before we believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah or Savior, that the old testament is referring to?
Every book in the bible, from Genesis to Revelation points to a single theme Jesus Christ finished worked the "Gospel"
Most of the time, we criticized for the things that we actually don't know? Like the bible, the Christians, etc. If we only study and understand scripture then we will see a different truth that the world can't understand. So instead being a critical about the bible, get hands-on, study and research about the bible to know the truth.
I remember a story about a man, who saw a person Snorkeling at the shallow water of the sea. The wondered why waste time looking down at the bottom of the sea? The looker begun to asked questions and the person snorkeling said, "I'm seeing amazing things" pertaining to fish and corals.
The moral of the story, if don't get wet and dive underwater then we will not see the real beauty of the sea, the corals, variety of fish and other marine life. We have to get wet, hands-on, dive or snorkel to see the real beauty of sea.
The same moral we can apply in God's word the bible, if we're only looking at the believer's life, we're just looking at the cover of the bible, the beauty, majesty and power of triune God is revealed if we study and apply it in our lives.
If we want to experience that, we have get hands-on and not just on-looker.
2. Are the miracles we see daily not enough as a proof that God even exists?
1. The moment we wake up each morning is a genuine and marvelous miracle.
2. The free air that we breath every second, imagine if God will turn it off for a couple of minutes what will happen to us?
3. A single cell from both parents will develop into a baby inside the womb of the mother, such a complex process and perfect timing and order are involved.
4. The earth rotates on its own axis every single second, imagine the earth shift it's axis?
5. Other endless miracles daily....
If you're struggling today with unbelief about some truths of the bible, then pray about it, ask your local pastors, research online resources to help you and encourage to believe in Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
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