Reading: Matthew 12
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 (Matt. 12:38-40).
The Pharisees had already made it quite clear that they would not accept Jesus' claim of authority (Matt 12:2,10-14,24). They were comfortable in the orderly world they had created— a world in which they, not God, had the last word. They had taken the law given to Moses, expanded upon it, and rigorously enforced their rules and regulations with lavish ceremony and pageantry. This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (15:8-9). It is unlikely they would have been thrilled with the appearance of the Messiah in any form, but they were noticeably less than impressed with the carpenter's son from Nazareth (13:55) that openly challenged their interpretations of the law. They were careful, however. Jesus had gained a rather large following, and it wouldn’t do for them to appear as enemies of the people. They didn't attack His teachings directly; instead, they tried to subtly discredit Him. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from Thee. They approached Him in false humility, pretending that they wanted to believe Him and asking only that He provided them with a miraculous, Godly sign so that they might be certain of His word.
Jesus did not allow Himself to be drawn into the Pharisees’ drama. He knew it would not matter what He did; the Pharisees would only see what their hardened hearts allowed them to see. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Eph. 4:18). Instead of immediate proof (which He had been providing all along by way of His many miracles), Jesus offered up a means by which future generations could confidently identify Him. 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.
"You can’t expect me to just believe; show me proof!" This has become the battle cry of ‘enlightened’ people everywhere. They scoffingly ask for proof because they ‘know’ that such evidence does not exist. But the problem is not a lack of proof; it is their lack of openness of heart and mind to perceive it. Just as it was in the time of the Pharisees, the confirmation of God’s existence is all around us. We have the wonder of the world in which we live (Rom. 1:19-20), the teachings of God's Word where we find, over and over, the evidence of prophecy fulfilled, and the Spirit-driven testimonies of an uncountable number of people whose lives God has touched. The proof of God’s existence is woven into every aspect of our lives, but the only way it can be seen is through the eyes of faith.
For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God (Job 19:25-26).
Thought for Today: Worldly power allows the prideful to indulge in sin without fear of correction or rebuke; they should be pitied, not envied.
Cross Reference: For Matt. 12:7: See Hos. 6:6. Matt. 12:18-21: See Is. 42:1-4. Matt. 12:40: See Jon. 1:17.
Word Studies:12:1 corn = grain fields; 12:5 profane = violate or break the law; 12:29 spoil his goods = take away his possessions; 12:44 garnished = ready for use.
Pray for Staff: Judy McCrary • Government Official: Sen. Benjamin Cardin (MD) • Country: Cote d'Ivoire (22,848,945) Western Africa • Major Language: French • Religious Freedom • 38.6% Muslim; 32.8% Christian; 11.9% Indigenous; 16.7% None • Prayer Suggestion: Bless the Lord for your redemption (Ps. 103:4).