Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:38
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
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:40
Matthew 12:40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights— See the note on Jonah 1:17. Instead of the whale's, we should read the fish's belly. It is no where in the Old Testament said that it was a whale, and κητος signifies any large fish in general. See Mintert on the word. The heart of the earth is a Hebraism for the earth. See what Ezekiel says of the city of Tyre, which was situated on the seashore, ch. Mat 27:4 Matthew 28:2. Our Saviour, in the expression here used, alludes to Jonah... read more