An Evil and Adulterous Generation Seeks After a Sign - Matthew 12:39

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by you words you shall be condemned.” Matthew continued, “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from you”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty-nine of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus about, “an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign” where we read:

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:

The verse reads, “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign;” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “he answered” or “Jesus began to speak and proceeded with remarks” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” or “to the scribes and Pharisees”, “an evil” which means “a wicked, bad nature, diseased and bad” “and adulterous” or “and idolatrous” “generation” which refers to “group of people very like each other in endowments, pursuits and character” “seeks after” which means “inquires for, wishes for, craves and demands” “a sign” or “a mark, token or thing distinguished from others”. Matthew shared how Jesus responded to the scribes and Pharisees by declaring that a “wicked and idolatrous” group of people desire a “mark or token” such as a miracle.

The verse continues, “and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:” Matthew added the words, “and there shall no sign” which means “and there would not exist any mark or token” “be given to it” or “be granted, supplied, furnished and delivered over”, “but” which means “whether lest or except” “the sign” or “the token or mark” “of the prophet” which means “belonging to the one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “Jonah” or “the fifth minor prophet, the son of Amittai, and a native of Gath-hepher who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II king of Israel”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees there would be no “sign” given to them other than the “sign” given through Jonah the prophet.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus declared a group of people as “evil and adulterous” if they seek after “signs”. God has presented Himself to the world through nature, His word and His Son Jesus. Those who believe and trust in Jesus shall be saved for all eternity, and those who do not shall be forever banned from His presence. The “sign of the prophet Jonah” will be revealed by Jesus in the next verse, but suffice it for now to know that God has sent His Son Jesus as the Messiah, and that is all the “sign” that is necessary to be “saved”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus shares how, “Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.