Christ’s Only Sign is Jonah

Matt. 12:39–42

29 uAnd while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a vsign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah 8the prophet. 30 For as wJonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 xThe queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a ygreater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for zthey repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Parable of the Lighted Lamp

33 a“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a bbasket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 cThe lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is 9good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is 1bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

“Woes” on the Pharisees

37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 dWhen the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39 eThen the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but fyour inward part is full of 2greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not gHe who made the outside make the inside also? 41 hBut rather give alms of 3such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42 i“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and jpass by justice and the klove of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 lWoe to you Pharisees! For you love the 4best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 mWoe to you, 5scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! nFor you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

“Woes” on the Lawyers

45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”

46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! oFor you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 pWoe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, q‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 rfrom the blood of Abel to sthe blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

52 t“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

53 6And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, 7and useeking to catch Him in something He might say, 8that they might accuse Him.