Sharper Iron — All Righteousness Fulfilled: The Sign of Jonah for Jesus’ Family

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Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 12:38-50.

Jesus’ ministry of teaching, healing, and exorcisms has revealed a great deal about Him, but the scribes and Pharisees ask for yet another sign out of their unbelief. Signs in the Scriptures are only beneficial when received in faith, so Jesus responds to their request by calling them out as a crooked and wicked generation. The only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah, by which Jesus speaks about His upcoming death and resurrection for sinners. Even that sign is only rightly received when the accompanying preaching is received with faith. Jonah’s Word was received with faith by Nineveh; so much more should the Word made flesh be received with faith. Solomon’s wisdom was received with faith by the queen of the South; so much more should Wisdom incarnate be received with faith. Those who believed these shadows in the Old Testament will praise God for His just judgment against those who rejected the reality in Jesus. This is not a light matter; those who have witnessed Jesus’ salvation without faith in Him are attacked viciously by Satan and his demons. Instead, Jesus calls people to be His disciples, to hear His Word and believe it, and so be true members of His family. The bond shared by those who have Jesus as Brother and God as Father is stronger than even the earthly family.

“All Righteousness Fulfilled” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims Jesus to Jews and Gentiles alike as the fulfillment of God’s saving words and acts throughout the Old Testament. As the Christ in the line of David and Abraham, Jesus is the promised King who comes to bring sinners from every nation to live under His gracious reign.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Matthew 12:38-50

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers[a] stood outside, asking to speak to him.[b] 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 12:46 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 48, 49

Matthew 12:46 Some manuscripts insert verse 47: Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you”

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.