The Desire for Signs

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, (A)we want to see a [a]sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, (B)An evil and adulterous generation craves a [b]sign; and so no [c]sign will be given to it except the [d]sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as (C)Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will (D)the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for (E)three days and three nights. 41 (F)The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because (G)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something (H)greater than Jonah is here. 42 (I)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 (J)greater than Solomon is here.

43 (K)Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, 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 brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and (L)the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:38 I.e., confirming miracle
  2. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  3. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle
  4. Matthew 12:39 I.e., confirming miracle

The Sign of Jonah(A)(B)

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign(C) from you.”(D)

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(E) 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,(F) so the Son of Man(G) will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(H) 41 The men of Nineveh(I) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(J) and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came(K) from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(L) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

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