Matt 12:38-45
Jonah / Sign
Demand for a sign
VS 38
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
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Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief……
……Every heart is the residence of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by faith in Christ….
….that is, a sign that God was with the person or had sent him. Compare the notes at Isaiah 7:11. Luke adds that this was done “tempting him;” that is, trying him, doubting if he had the power to do it. If th
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/12-38.htm
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FAITHFUL “sign” requests
ABRAHAM & GIDEON
vs.
UNFAITHFUL
Evil intent
Satan’s temptation of Jesus …
“IF YOU ARE…..”
THREATS AND DOUBTS
Where do these fall and why
made at God…. do “x” or else….
Scribes and Pharisees had evidence right before them but had previously entered into discussions as to how to kill Jesus.
REAL SIGNS ….
For them and us:
Romans 1:18…
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
SIGNS WE HAVE:
Creation
– Heavens and Earth
– dna – ( micro level )
V20 … “clearly seen” invisible qualities…
PLUS we have :
– Bible
– preserved
– OT & NT Prophets
– Eyewitnesses
– fulfilled prophecies
Yet – “suppressed truth”
What is left that we still need….
Abraham 15: 6,8
1) Believed (vs6)
2) Asked ( to know )
Gideon
7 yr overrun, hiding, starving.
THE REASON
6:10 I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
THE QUESTION
12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?
THE SIGN
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
17 Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me
Apply
Questions and Doubts
Vs
Suppressing what’s revealed
“But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. “
How could that not be enough?