Mat 12:38-42, Mar 8:11-12 | Family | STEP | A sign ; some miraculous appearance from heaven. Compare chap . Like all cavillers, they profess not to be satisfied with the proofs he had given them of his divine mission: they must have signs according to their own dictation. Men who disbelieve and reject the truth, often profess to do it for want of evidence; while the evidence which God has furnished, and which is abundantly sufficient, they overlook or withstand.

Matthew 12:38-42

A sign; some miraculous appearance from heaven. Compare chap Mt 16:1; Mr 8:11; Joh 6:30. Like all cavillers, they profess not to be satisfied with the proofs he had given them of his divine mission: they must have signs according to their own dictation. Men who disbelieve and reject the truth, often profess to do it for want of evidence; while the evidence which God has furnished, and which is abundantly sufficient, they overlook or withstand. No sign; no such sign as they desired. One would in due time be given, which would demonstrate his Messiahship; but it would not convince them. In the whale's belly; in which he was a type of Christ's burial.

Three days and three nights; that is, parts of three days and nights. The burial of Christ took place on Friday. That was reckoned, according to Jewish custom, as one day. Saturday, through the whole of which Christ was in the tomb, called the heart of the earth, was another day; and the Christian Sabbath, on the morning of which he rose from the dead, was the third day; or according to their mode of speaking, three days and three nights. Men of Nineveh; Jon 3:5.

Greater than Jonas; the Messiah, the Son of God. Queen of the south; 1Ki 10:1-9.

Uttermost parts; a very distant country.

Greater than Solomon; though Solomon was the greatest of men as to wisdom, 1Ki 3:13, Jesus was greater than he, or any mere man.

Mark 8:11-12

11-13. A sign sought. Mt 16:1-4. Sighed deeply; on account of their wickedness. Pious men are grieved at the deceit and hypocrisy of the wicked; and earnestly desire and fervently pray that by forsaking their sins and turning to God, they may be prepared for heaven.