adulterous. Spiritually. See Jeremiah 3:9 . Ezekiel 23:37 , &c generation. Greek. genea. Not the same as in Matthew 12:34 . See note on Matthew 11:16 . seeketh: or, is for ever seeking. Jonas = Jonah. See App-117 . read more
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.This arrogant request came from a group who had already accused Jesus of being in league with the devil and who had already seen signs aplenty; but in this case, they were demanding a sign of their own choosing. Luke stated that they sought a "sign from heaven" (Luke 11:16). By that, they no doubt meant some spectacular wonder without moral value but which would appeal sensationally to a man's... read more
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.The "adulterous generation" refers not merely to the morals of the people but to the rejection of Israel's covenant with their God. Barnes wrote:The relation of the Jews to God was represented as a marriage contract with God as the husband and the Jewish people as his wife (Isaiah 57:3; Hosea 3:1; Ezekiel 16:15). Hence, their... read more
Matthew 12:38-39. Then certain of the Scribes, &c.— Though our Saviour's reasoning was clear and unanswerable, yet some of the Scribes and Pharisees, desirous to divert the discourse to another topic, and fully demonstrating the hardness of their hearts, required a sign from heaven; as much as to say, "Master, thou professest thyself a teacher of extraordinary authority, and we may justly expect some proportionable proof of it: Now these supposed dispossessions which we have lately seen or... read more
38. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master—"Teacher," equivalent to "Rabbi." we would see a sign from thee—"a sign from heaven" ( :-); something of an immediate and decisive nature, to show, not that His miracles were real—that they seemed willing to concede—but that they were from above, not from beneath. These were not the same class with those who charged Him with being in league with Satan (as we see from Luke 11:15; Luke 11:16); but as the spirit of both... read more
39. But he answered and said unto them—"when the people were gathered thick together" (Luke 11:29). an evil and adulterous generation—This latter expression is best explained by Luke 11:29- :, "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord." For this was the relationship in which He stood to the covenant-people—"I am married unto you" (Luke 11:29- :). seeketh after a sign—In the eye of Jesus this class were... read more
B. Specific instances of Israel’s rejection of Jesus ch. 12Matthew has shown that opposition to Jesus came from two main sources: the animosity of the religious leaders, and the indifference of the common Israelites. In this chapter he presented five instances in which opposition manifested itself and increased. In each situation the approach to Jesus was negative, but Jesus responded positively. [Note: Toussaint, Behold the . . ., p. 158.] "Central to the plot of Matthew’s story is the element... read more
Matthew’s connective again was weak. This incident was not a continuation of the preceding controversy chronologically but thematically. Some of the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus to perform a sign, not just a miracle. He had performed many miracles, and they had concluded that they were satanic (Matthew 12:24). A sign was an immediate tangible assurance that something prophesied would surely happen. They requested a particular type of miracle. Evidently they believed Jesus could not produce... read more
3. Conflict over Jesus’ sign 12:38-45The fourth incident and the third type of conflict concerned a sign that Jesus’ critics requested. read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:38
Master = Teacher. See App-98 . Matthew 12:1 . would = desire. Greek. thelo. App-102 . see = to see. Greek. eidon. a sign. The first of six "signs" asked for. Compare Matthew 16:1 ; Matthew 24:3 .Luke 11:16 . John 2:18 ; John 6:30 . from. Greek. apo. read more