Chapter 27
“Behold, a greater than Solomon is here!”
“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
(Matthew 12:38-50)
In these verses the Lord Jesus silences the caviling Pharisees, demonstrates the validity of Holy Scripture and the danger of graceless religion, and gives great comfort to all who trust him.
The first thing that confronts us in this passage is the fact that unbelief always looks for a sign. The Pharisees in their brazen, obstinate, arrogant self-righteousness and unbelief said, “Master, we would see a sign from thee” (v. 38). What sham pretense! They pretended that they merely wanted a little more evidence in order to be convinced and become his disciples. The healing of the sick, the cleansing of the lepers, the casting out of devils, and the raising of the dead was not quite enough evidence for them. It was not enough because they were determined not to believe the Son of God!
That is exactly the state of many today. They claim a willingness to believe if only they had enough evidence, or enough proof, or enough signs. But faith in Christ cannot be produced by signs, proofs, and arguments. Faith is the gift of God. It is wrought in men and women by hearing the Word of God (Eph. 2:8-9; Luke 16:31; Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:22-24). And the basis of faith is the naked Revelation of God in Holy Scripture (1 John 5:9-13). The only way anyone can ever see the glory of God and be established in the peace of God and the truth of God is by believing God (John 11:40; Isa. 7:9).
Verses 39-42 demonstrate clearly that the authority of the Old Testament and the New Testament stand or fall together. “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”
In these verses the Lord Jesus, almost casually, displays the truth of the Old Testament Scriptures. This is an important fact. The Bible is one Book, not two. It is one, united Word of divine revelation. Those who attempt to pick holes in the Old Testament are at the same time attempting to destroy the authority of the New (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Rom. 15:4; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
The same Holy Spirit who inspired the Old Testament writers to tell us of Jonah, the Queen of Sheba, and Solomon inspired the writers of the New Testament to tell us of Christ, his redemptive work, and his exaltation and glory. If one part of this Book is a lie, all of it is a lie. You cannot pick and choose what you want. You must either receive it all and believe it all, or reject it all as a lie, a falsehood, a fable, and a fabrication.
As Jonah really was in the belly of the whale for three days, so the Lord Jesus, when he was crucified as our Substitute, was buried in the earth and rose from the dead three days later. The men of Nineveh who believed Jonah’s message and repented shall rise in judgment against all who refuse to believe the message of grace from the lips of the risen Christ. – “Behold a greater than Jonah is here!” Christ is a greater Man with a greater message.
The Pharisees cast our Lord overboard, just as the sailors did Jonah. As the sea was calmed for those sailors by the sacrifice of Jonah, so our Lord’s death made peace for us. As Jonah’s mission and message were certified by his resurrection from the sea, so is our Lord’s mission and message certified by his resurrection from the dead. That man who had come back from death and burial in the sea commanded the attention of all Nineveh. Even so, our risen Savior demands and deserves the obedient faith of all who hear his message. The resurrection of Christ is the sign of the prophet Jonah; but it is supplemented by another, that in the mouth of two witnesses it might be established.
As the Queen of Sheba diligently sought Solomon and heard all his wisdom, so all who seek Christ shall find him and be taught of him all things pertaining to life and godliness. – “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here!” This queen of the south shall rise in judgment against all who have Christ clearly set before them, but refuse to trust him.
The sign here spoken of displays our Lord’s kingly wisdom. As the fame of Solomon caused the Queen of Sheba to seek him, so the doctrine of Christ commands the attention of the whole world. Though the Pharisees and lost religionists of our day refuse him who is the Wisdom of God, chosen multitudes, scattered over all the earth, gladly come to him, bow before his majesty, and gladly receive his Word.
The superlative excellence of Solomon’s wisdom stands for our Lord as a second sign, a sign that cannot be disputed. Our Savior’s royal wisdom meets all the needs of men. Who else has revealed such grace and truth? Who but the Son of God could have revealed the Father to us?
Verses 43-45 teach us that nothing is so dangerous and destructive to the souls of men as a profession of faith without the possession of grace. — “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”
Faithful gospel preachers do not try to pump and twist professions of faith out of people, young or old, because we realize that nothing is more certain to destroy a person than religion without Christ. Such men want you to know Christ, to trust him, to be saved by him, and urgently press upon you the claims of Christ in the gospel. If God has given you faith in Christ, they will urge you to confess him in believer’s baptism, identify yourself with his people, and publicly devote yourself to Christ, his gospel, and his cause, knowing that secret disciples are always suspect disciples. But they will not aid unconverted men and women in making a refuge of lies for themselves, professing faith without experiencing grace. None of God’s elect are going to perish because we do not pump professions of faith out of people. Our only business is to faithfully preach the gospel to people, pray for God’s blessing upon it, and wait for God to do his work.
In these verses the Lord Jesus describes what happens to men and women who are talked into religion and persuaded to make a profession in a lost religious generation, never experiencing the grace of God. They may experience a great change and religious (moral and outward) sanctification; but their ultimate end will be everlasting ruin (Heb. 4:6; 10:38; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). As J. C. Ryle wrote, “None prove so hopelessly wicked as those who after experiencing strong religious convictions have gone back again to sin and the world.” The last state of that man is worse than the first. Do not be content with Christless, graceless religion!
“For if,” wrote Robert Hawker, “while under the same awful influence of an unrenewed, unregenerated heart, the man is prompted to put on the appearance of an outside sanctity; and covers over the uncleanness that is within, with a seeming zeal for religion without: these are like the seven other spirits of the devil, more wicked than the former, because more desperately deceiving, both himself and the world; and of consequence, the end is more dreadful. And who shall calculate the numbers there, as living under this most wretched of all delusions? Who shall say, the many, who go out of life well pleased with this whitening sepulchre-reform; in whose heart, no saving change hath been wrought; nor any acquaintance made with the person, work, or grace of God the Holy Ghost (John 3:3-9; Acts 19:2). Reader! see to it that no change satisfies your mind, but that which is wrought by the Holy Ghost and Christ, formed in your heart the life of glory (Romans 8:9-17; 2 Cor. 5:17).”
Verses 46-50 teach us that all true believers are the family of God.
“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Sometimes the Church of God is called by one name and sometimes by another to show various aspects of our relationship to God and to one another. It is called “the church,” “the body of Christ,” “the bride,” “the fold,” “an holy nation,” “a royal priesthood,” “Jerusalem,” “the church of the firstborn,” “the kingdom of heaven,” “the kingdom of God,” and “the family of God.” In this passage our Lord teaches us that all true believers are one in him, and that we are the family of God (Eph. 3:15). All believers are counted by the Son of God as his relatives. He loves them. He feels for them. He cares for them, as members of his family, bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh. He provides for his family. He protects his family. He prays for his family. Some of his family have already gone home. Some of his family are yet in their pilgrimage. But all who do the will of his Father, all who trust him are members of his family.
J. C. Ryle’s observations on this passage are as precious and encouraging as they are instructive.
“Mark how He speaks of every one who does the will of His Father in heaven. He says, ‘he is my brother, and sister, and mother.’ What gracious words these are! Who can conceive the depth of our dear Lord’s love towards His relations according to the flesh? It was a pure, unselfish love. It must have been a mighty love, a love that passes man’s understanding. Yet here we see that all His believing people are counted as His family. He loves them, feels for them, cares for them, as members of His family, bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh.
There is a solemn warning here to all who mock and persecute true Christians on account of their religion. They consider not what they are doing. They are persecuting the near relations of the King of kings. They will find at the last day that they have mocked those whom the Judge of all regards as His ‘brother, and sister, and mother.’
There is rich encouragement here for all believers. They are far more precious in their Lord’s eyes than they are in their own. Their faith may be feeble, their repentance weak, their strength small. They may be poor and needy in this world. But there is a glorious ‘whoever’ in the last verse of this chapter which ought to cheer them. ‘Whoever’ believes is a near relation of Christ. The elder Brother will provide for him in time and eternity, and never let him be cast away. There is not one ‘little sister’ in the family of the redeemed, whom Jesus does not remember (Song 8:8). Joseph provided richly for all his relations, and Jesus will provide for His.”
Are you a member of this family? Rejoice? Would you be? Trust Christ?