38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43 Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

The Pharisees, joined by the scribes, wouldn’t give up. As their trump card, they demand a sign from Him to validate His teaching. The irony of this is inescapable. Jesus had been giving them signs all along, but now they want it on their terms, reminiscent of Satan’s challenge in the desert to control how and when Jesus performed the miraculous. Jesus responded that they show the signs of being what He calls an “evil and adulterous generation.”

The only further sign Jesus would give to satisfy their demand would be His death and resurrection which was pictured in the story of Jonah. However, this would be a sign of judgment on Israel. Jesus and His message are far greater than Jonah and his message, so they should be warned! Just as the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon for wisdom, they ought to take heed to His teachings, since the Lord is greater than she is. These stories form the backdrop of Israel’s punishment for rejecting that which is greater!

Jesus finishes His diatribe with a parable of demon possession. Israel is like a man freed from demon possession, the analogy being that Messiah is present to free them from their captivity to sin. Since they refuse to repent, their end will be worse than their beginning, pictured by the demon returning with others more wicked than itself. In contrast to their earlier accusation of Jesus being in partnership with Satan, He implies the reverse charge!

Lord, I don’t need You to prove Yourself to me. Your death and resurrection is enough proof that You love me—everything else is extra blessing.