From Matthew 12:41 / Something Greater Part 2

Before we go back to treat the intervening verses of 9-40, it seems good to continue looking at the 3-fold “greater than” statements.

Hint to preachers: At times, you have to look at a larger portion to grasp the big picture, before going back to look at the individual portions. In this case, because the section encompasses these 3 related references, they need to be dealt with in that regard. Some passages will require more than one treatment to tease out both the big picture and the smaller parts.

Note that these latter two “greater” statements most certainly took place at another place and time. The narrative is arranged by Matthew to give us this emphasis. So be careful not to assume that all the entire section occurred at the very same time. By the inspiration of the Spirit – Matthew has helped us find this emphasis.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “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 will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 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. 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. Matt. 12:38-41

2 – Greater than Jonah

Now the idea here is really quite startling.

By the time this encounter happens, Jesus had already performed any number of healings and miracles.

He had been preaching in the synagogues for quite some time. And news of His healings and casting out demons was commonplace.

He had already given the Sermon on The Mount, healed a leper right after and interacted with them over healing others on the Sabbath.

One has to wonder just what kind of sign other than these things would have been sufficient for them?

Nothing keeps lost men bound in their sins and Christians paralyzed in confusion when making decisions, more than requiring God to give them “signs” rather than simply believing the truth.

We try to force God’s hand. Internally – even if not consciously – thinking to blame Him for not giving us enough proof. But what proof does the truth need? It ought to be obvious.

As we see here, the point of Jesus’ words are that the men of Nineveh saw no sign.

When Jonah was cast upon the shore he was hundreds of miles away from Nineveh. None of them saw it. But! they believed Jonah’s preaching. How very fallen we are indeed.

And Jesus here frustrates their attempt get Him to perform on demand. He is no trained seal.

The Scribes and Pharisees had seen Him cast out devils and yet here – they ask for a “sign”

So it is Jesus reminds them that those who were proverbial for being wicked pagans – the Ninevites – repented at the mere preaching of Jonah – and didn’t require some sign from him.

So the only “sign” they are going to get, is one that will be after the crucifixion. It won’t deal with their present unwillingness to believe.

But how does that factor into Jesus being greater than Jonah?

Jonah himself was a sign: And Christ is the reality the sign pointed to. And this, by both comparison and contrast.

‌1 – By comparison, Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish was type and shadow of Jesus’ burial: Matt. 12:40 / 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.

2 – By contrast, Jonah preached judgment only: Christ both preached the forgiveness of sins, and died as the satisfaction of our sins.

3 – Jonah did no miracles: Christ demonstrated the Kingdom everywhere.

4 – Jonah was a most reluctant prophet: Christ came most willingly, even at the cost of exchanging His glory for humility, being brutalized and most cruelly murdered.

5 – Jonah only preached: Christ lived sinlessly, died as our substitute, was buried, and rose again for our justification.

6 – Jonah was in the fish for his own sins: Jesus was in the grave for ours.

7 – Jonah heard the Word of the Lord and ran from it: Jesus came specifically to do the will of the Father. Heb. 10:5-7 / …when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”

8 – God’s will displeased Jonah: But in John 4:34 / Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

9 – Jonah was a sign to Nineveh only: Christ is the sign of the great fallenness of mankind: Luke 2:34 / And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed.

‌Greater than Jonah indeed!