38 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:38–40 (ESV)
Many individuals are familiar with the idiom “Seeing is believing.” The phrase means that when something unlikely is witnessed, the truth of its occurrence or existence can no longer be doubted. “I didn’t think it could happen, but seeing is believing.”
However, in the case of Jesus’ miracles, no matter how many signs He publically performed, the religious leaders always wanted more. At this point in Matthew’s Gospel, the apostle has recorded entire chapters devote to chronicling Jesus’ power and authority (Matt. 8:1-9:8; 11:1-12:50).
Even in the context of today’s text, the Pharisees witnessed Jesus healing a man with a withered hand (Matt. 12:9-14). They also heard of the Lord exorcizing a demon from another man (Matt. 12:22-25). However, instead of honoring the Lord they not only accused Him of breaking the Sabbath but also accomplishing these acts by the power of Satan. While the religious leaders did not deny Jesus’ miracles, instead of worshiping Him they sought to destroy Him (Matt. 12:14).
Therefore, when the scribes and the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign (σημεῖον; semeion) or a miracle, He said that such a request comes from an evil and adulterous generation. Jesus would not perform miracles on demand.
However, there is one sign that Jesus promised to give them. It was the sign of the Prophet Jonah. “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jesus Christ rising from the dead would be the greatest sign of His deity and sovereignty as God (John 2:18-22).
18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:18–25 ESV)
“No miracle will ever be sufficient to engender faith within those who love their sin and refuse to turn to God. People are being insincere when they say they will believe if they see a miracle, for there is plenty of evidence of the truth of Jesus in the accounts of His resurrection, the spread of the Gospel, and the lives and societies changed by obedience to His message. Pray that you would always be able to see these proofs for the truth of our Lord’s words,” concludes Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 