Matthew 12:38-39

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38

Sinful sign-seekers. Sign-seeking may be either right or wrong. Gideon sought a sign from God for the confirmation of his faith; and to him the sign was given. These Pharisees asked for a sign which they could turn into a confirmation of their unbelief, and to them no sign was given; they must be content with a sort of enigma, or riddle, which they might puzzle over if they pleased. The state of mind of these sign-seekers is of great importance. It explains to us at once that it would Lave... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-42

Before entering on this difficult passage, it seems necessary to make some preliminary observations. (a) The demand was made twice (in itself exceedingly probable), and our Lord's answers were to a great extent identical in substance (in itself not very probable), and when identical in substance were closely identical in language (distinctly less probable). Or perhaps we might suppose that this identity of language was rather due to the narrator than to our Lord himself; familiarity with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

Some of our Lord's opponents try to defend themselves by asking for a sign of his authority to claim so much; e.g. Matthew 12:30 ( Matthew 12:38 ). In his reply he refers them to their own histories for proof that such a demand is inexcusable. The Ninevites did not require one when Jonah became a sign to them—and in mentioning Jonah he refers to his being in the whale's belly three days and three nights as a symbol of what should happen to himself—and "the queen of the south" took... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

Further manifestation of unbelief. I. THE SIGN FROM HEAVEN . 1 . The demand of the scribes and Pharisees. They had just witnessed a wonderful sign, a striking evidence of the Divine authority of Christ. Some of them wickedly accused the Lord of dealings with Satan; others, less brutal, but equally obstinate in their unbelief, demanded further proof. It must be some visible appearance in the sky, they said ( Luke 11:16 ); nothing else would satisfy them. 2 . The Lord '... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

Last state worse than first. All that was implied in our Lord's mode of working is here explicitly enounced. The miracles were only subordinately evidences of his Divine commission; primarily they were deeds of mercy. But to heal every one would have been to violate the constitution of man's nature, and upset the equilibrium required for the harmonious co-operation of God and man. Those only who had faith were healed, and this secured that their character was purified and aided, not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

The sign-seekers. After Jesus had denounced the blasphemy of the scribes and Pharisees, and threatened them with the severity of the judgment, certain of their number demanded of him a sign to sustain his asserted authority. In his reply we notice— I. THAT THE SINNERS ARE REBUKED IN MERCY . 1 . They sought a sign , viz. , from heaven. 2 . But this sign was not for that generation. 3 . He gave them the sign from the earth. (a) As to the fact. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:39

Of the passages mentioned in the introductory note on Matthew 12:38-42 , Matthew 16:4 is verbally identical with the answer of our present verse, except the omission of the words, "the prophet," which occur nowhere else but in this passage. But he answered and said to them, An evil ( πονηρά , Matthew 6:13 , note) and adulterous generation . However frequent the sin of adultery may then have been, the common metaphorical sense of spiritual unfaithfulness to God and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:38-42

We would see a sign from thee - See Luke 11:16, Luke 11:29-32. A “sign” commonly signifies a miracle - 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 these persons had been present with him for any considerable time, they had already seen sufficient proofs that he was what he claimed to be. They might have been, however, those who had... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:38-40

Matthew 12:38-40. Then certain of the scribes, &c. Now present, upon hearing how plainly Christ admonished, and how severely he rebuked them, answered Probably with a view to divert the discourse to another topic, We would see a sign from thee As if they had said, Otherwise we will not believe this doctrine. Thus they insinuated that the ejection of devils was but a trifling miracle, which, for all he had said to the contrary, might be done by the help of devils, and that no signs... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:22-45

52. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-45; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:14-36)On one occasion when Jesus cast out demons, the Pharisees accused him of doing it by the power of Satan, the prince of demons (Matthew 12:22-24; Luke 11:14-16). Jesus replied that if the prince of demons used his own power to cast out demons, he would be creating civil war in his own kingdom. He would be destroying himself. The only way a strong man can be defeated is if a stronger man overpowers him. In casting out... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-42

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:39

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:38-42

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:38-40

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:22-45

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