They Should Have Known Better
Matthew 12:38-39
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."
Man has a tendency to create his own god, a god of his own kind. The god that would do what he would do. The god that would have created things in the manner that he would have created them. The god that would respond to the questions of life in the ways that he would have responded. They create these gods with eyes, even though they cannot see. The make them with ears and a mouth but they cannot hear or speak. Even the atheist does this, the god they rail against is an invention of their own making. And one timeless truth is at work in all these situations, they become like their god. There are among these god creators a religious, moral, and good people who say they believe in God and do good kind things for others.
To be clear, the Bible teaches us that all men are sinners, all men are separated from God, and all are targeted for divine judgment. This truth runs through the scriptures from beginning to the end. And also running through those scriptures we can see a relative goodness being attributed to some by virtue of how sinful or sinless they seem to be. Yet no matter the relative circumstances, there is a point in which every person comes face to face with their true sin nature. That is when they face Jesus Christ. At that point they can no longer hide their intentions. No matter what their life is like, Jesus unmasks the truth.
Now think about this...
John 15:22
“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin. But now they have no cloak for their sin.”
Jesus is talking about some of the most religious people in the world at that time. They wore their masks very well. And they rejected the Son of the living God. No matter what else you want to say about them and their religiosity, they sinned the unpardonable sin against God's Spirit. No matter what they pretended to be, their sin finds them out when they are forced to face Jesus.
If Jesus had never come we'd probably never know the truth about their black perverted hearts. The truth is they hate God just as the atheist does. If they had loved God, they would have loved Jesus. Their evil hearts are unveiled when they encounter Jesus. Almost immediately they lash out demanding answers from him. Just like the demons do when Jesus approaches a demonically possessed person. In Matthew 12 the Pharisees are keeping up their religious charade until Jesus shows up. And Jesus is like a mirror to them. They confront Jesus Christ, and all of a sudden, their hypocrisy is revealed. They don’t love God; they hate God, and they hate his Son.
You can experience this even today. Go into a group of religious progressive liberal people. These are places where people go to talk about the Bible, at an arm’s length. You go there to get book reviews and philosophical advice. You can get them to discuss politics and especially identity politics surrounding women's liberation. These churches follow liberation theology and social justice principles. And if you come into that place teaching Jesus Christ as he taught about himself, you'll quickly see the hatred for God and his son. That is always the best revealer.
So the Pharisees are accusing Jesus of being a Sabbath-breaker, and Jesus tells them they don't understand their own scriptures. So they attack him, calling him a devil worshipping sorcerer. And this is their greatest sin, worse even than murdering him on a cross. They are damned by their unbelief, and their rejection of the works of The Holy Spirit.
These lawyers and Bible scholars then set out to find fault in him by which they can demand his prosecution. They say, "Master" – and this betrays their hypocrisy, "give us a sign". They did not respect Him at all; in fact they hated Him. Their words dripped with pride and hated. And they know that by virtue of their authority as scribes and religious leaders, their questions were given more weight and importance. And therefore, everyone would assume that a potential Messiah should give a sign to them, as if they can judge The Holy One, as if they alone hold that authority. And we see this even today in many churches where those who hold authority in the church are given credence even when they get the word of God wrong.
What sort of sign do you think they would have expected? A healing? An exorcism? Raising someone from the dead? Funny thing is, I don't think any of those things would have removed their hatred for him. After all Jesus had already accomplished all these things. You know what I think would have maybe turned them? If he read their thoughts, exposed their sins publicly, and revealed them for all to see. What else could they be asking for? They should be careful what they ask for.
In 1 Corinthians 1:22, the Apostle Paul says, “The Jews demand signs.” They are forever looking for signs from heaven. And maybe that was the real issue here. Jesus was a man, God as well, but a man just the same. And he was living as a man, holy and true. And they want heavenly signs. Miracles that go beyond human abilities. But here's Jesus the man condemning their actions by being better than they are. By being human, and truly godly, and completing their religious responsibilities and functions with efficacy and grace. So they wanted him to prove himself by doing something extraordinary that wasn't from him, the human him, but from heaven above. They needed to deconstruct him. To separate him from his heavenly authority. Maybe if he could turn the moon to blood or darken the sun then they could be appeased. But would they? Why wouldn't that also be the work of devils at his command? Speaking of which, isn't it these sorts of signs they will accept when the Antichrist comes into their temple.
I think they asked for the sign because they believed he couldn't do it. Make him move the stone that's too large even for God to move. Find his weak spot. Discredit Him in front of the people, because at the end of the day politics and propaganda is greater than any good works. Getting people to follow your lead is greater than love and grace. At least it was so in their minds, because they were evil and adulterous.
"An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign."
If you were truly faithful to God, you wouldn't need to suggest that these tests are required of the Messiah. Just asking for the sign proves your true hearts. By asking these things from Jesus, they make themselves enemies of God.
So, to them is given a sign, “Something greater than Jonah is here.”
This generation is like the pagans of Nineveh. No true relationship with God or the truth. And they will witness the Messiah going into the grave and rising again after three days. This disobedient, foolish, and rebellious people will see the sign they weren't expecting. These are God's people who have God's law, but one came to them who is greater than Jonah. It is the God of Jonah in human flesh. He is perfect, compassionate, sinless, and he has the power to give life.
And as if that sign isn't enough, Jesus predicts another.
Matthew 12:42
"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."
A gentile will come and condemn them. A pagan gentile who traveled from the ends of the earth to know God's king. And here now is someone greater who has come to them, and they rejected him.
One day, all those who sit in their progressive liberal seats of authority in their churches, those who reject the divinity of Jesus, they will see The Queen of The South condemn them. Someday pagan Ninevites and a pagan queen will condemn them because they should have known better.
Luke 9:26
"If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels."
#Discipleship #Faithfulness #Paganism #Atheism #JesusChristIsKing