Matthew 12:38-42

Feb 08, 2011 05:34 AM v 42 start at <a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/12-38.htm" >38</a>Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

Luke adds that this was done "tempting him;" that is, trying him, doubting if he had the power to do it

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Gill's Exposition</a>

... saying, master, not fellow, magician, Samaritan, thou that hast a devil, and casts out devils by Beelzebub, and art a devil, and Beelzebub himself; but doctor, teacher, allowing him, at least, in a flattering way, that he was an instructor of mankind, though they would not own him to be a prophet, unless he would give such signs, as would make it appear he was one

we would see a sign from thee: that is, a sign from heaven, as they desired at another time, <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/16-1.htm" >Matthew 16:1</a> and, as Luke says, they did now, <a href="http://bible.cc/luke/11-16.htm" >Luke 11:16</a> they had seen a sign from him on earth, in the cure of the man that had a withered hand; and another, in dispossessing the devil out of the man, that was blind and dumb; but these they looked upon rather as signs from hell, and done by confederacy with the devil; and therefore desire, or rather, in an imperious way, demand one from heaven, where they thought Satan had not such power,

...the Jews, in Christ's time, expected signs and wonders to be wrought by the Messiah, in proof of his being so, though now they reject them as needless

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/12-39.htm" >39</a>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 the prophet Jonas:

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

An evil and adulterous generation - Or, race of people; for so γενεα should be translated here, and in most other places in the Gospels; for our Lord, in general, uses it to point out the Jewish people. This translation is a key to unlock some very obscure passages in the evangelists.

But, independently of this, there is the utmost proof, from their own writings, that in the time of our Lord they were most literally an adulterous race of people: for, at this very time, R. Jochanan ben Zacchai abrogated the trial by the bitter waters of jealousy, because so many were found to be thus criminal. See on <a href="http://bible.cc/john/8-3.htm" >John 8:3</a>

It is allowed that adultery was exceedingly common at this time, so common that they had ceased to put the law in force against it. The waters of jealousy were no longer drunk, the culprits or those suspected of this crime, being so very numerous; and the men who were guilty themselves dared not try their suspected wives, as it was believed the waters would have no evil effect upon the wife, if the husband himself had been criminal. See the whole of the process on the waters of jealousy in the notes on <a href="http://bible.cc/numbers/5-14.htm" >Numbers 5:14</a> (note), etc.; and see at the end of chap. 18 (note).

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

for they say (h), "that just when the Messiah comes, or in the age the son of David comes, "impudence shall be increased", corn and wine shall be dear, the government shall be heretics, , "and the synagogue shall become a brothel house".''

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/12-40.htm" >40</a>For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li >Three days and three nights - It will be seen in the account of the resurrection of Christ that he was in the grave but two nights and a part of three days. See <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/18-6.htm" >Matthew 28:6</a>. This computation is, however, strictly in accordance with the Jewish mode of reckoning. If it had "not" been, the Jews would have understood it, and would have charged our Saviour as being a false prophet, for it was well known to them that he had spoken this prophecy, <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/27-63.htm" >Matthew 27:63</a>. Such a charge, however, was never made; and it is plain, therefore, that what was "meant" by the prediction was accomplished. It was a maxim, also, among the Jews, in computing time, that a part of a day was to be received as the whole. Many instances of this kind occur in both sacred and profane history. See <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/2_chronicles/10-5.htm" >2 Chronicles 10:5</a>, <a href="http://bible.cc/2_chronicles/10-12.htm" >2 Chronicles 10:12</a>; <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/genesis/42-17.htm" >Genesis 42:17-18</a>. Compare <a href="http://bible.cc/esther/4-16.htm" >Esther 4:16</a> with <a href="http://bible.cc/esther/5-1.htm" >Esther 5:1</a>.</li>

<li >In the heart of the earth - The Jews used the word "heart" to denote the "interior" of a thing, or to speak of being in a thing. It means, here, to be in the grave or sepulchre.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li >The very same quantity of time which is here termed three days and three nights, and which, in reality, was only one whole day, a part of two others, and two whole nights, is termed three days and three nights, in the book of Esther: Go; neither eat nor drink Three Days, Night or Day, and so I will go in unto the king: <a href="http://bible.cc/esther/4-16.htm" >Esther 4:16</a>. Afterwards it follows, <a href="http://bible.cc/esther/5-1.htm" >Esther 5:1</a>. On the Third Day, Esther stood in the inner court of the king's house. Many examples might be produced, from both the sacred and profane writers, in vindication of the propriety of the expression in the text. For farther satisfaction, the reader, if he please, may consult Whitby and Wakefield, and take the following from Lightfoot.</li>

<li >If you number the hours that pass from our Savior's giving up the ghost upon the cross to his resurrection, you shall find almost the same number of hours; and yet that space is called by him three days and three nights, whereas two nights only came between, and one complete day. Nevertheless, while he speaks these words, he is not without the consent both of the Jewish schools and their computation. Weigh well that which is disputed in the tract Scabbath, concerning the separation of a woman for three days; where many things are discussed by the Gemarists, concerning the computation of this space of three days. Among other things these words occur: R. Ismael saith, Sometimes it contains four אונות onoth, sometimes five, sometimes six. But how much is the space of an אונה onah? R. Jochanan saith, Either a day or a night. And so also the Jerusalem Talmud: 'R. Akiba fixed a Day for an onah, and a Night for an onah.' But the tradition is, that R. Eliazar ben Azariah said, A day and a night make an onah: and a Part of an onah is as the Whole. And a little after, R. Ismael computed a part of the onah for the whole." Thus, then, three days and three nights, according to this Jewish method of reckoning, included any part of the first day; the whole of the following night; the next day and its night; and any part of the succeeding or third day.</li>

<li >In the whale's belly - That a fish of the shark kind, and not a whale, is here meant, Bochart has abundantly proved, vol. iii. col. 742, etc., edit. Leyd. 1692. It is well known that the throat of a whale is capable of admitting little more than the arm of an ordinary man; but many of the shark species can swallow a man whole, and men have been found whole in the stomachs of several. Every natural history abounds with facts of this kind. Besides, the shark is a native of the Mediterranean Sea, in which Jonah was sailing when swallowed by what the Hebrew terms דג גדול dag gadol, a great fish; but every body knows that whales are no produce of the Mediterranean Sea, thought some have been by accident found there, as in most other parts of the maritime world: but, let them be found where they may, there is none of them capable of swallowing a man. Instead of either whale or shark, some have translated דג גדול dag gadol, <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/jonah/1-17.htm" >Jonah 1:17</a>, by a fishing cove, or something of this nature; but this is merely to get rid of the miracle: for, according to some, the whole of Divine revelation is a forgery - or it is a system of metaphor or allegory, that has no miraculous interferences in it. But, independently of all this, the criticism is contemptible. Others say, that the great fish means a vessel so called, into which Jonah went, and into the hold of which he was thrown, where he continued three days and three nights. In short, it must be any thing but a real miracle, the existence of which the wise men, so called, of the present day, cannot admit. Perhaps these very men are not aware that they have scarcely any belief even in the existence of God himself!</li>

</ul>

My notes:

<ul>

<li ><a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/16-21.htm" >Matthew 16:21</a> From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li >Christ was buried Friday evening, lay in the grave Saturday, and rose Sunday, parts of three days, rose on the third day, and was in the grave the space of time meant in eastern usage by three days and three nights.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://wes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Wesley's Notes</a>

<ul>

<li >12:40 Three days and three nights - It was customary with the eastern nations to reckon any part of a natural day of twenty - four hours, for the whole day. Accordingly they used to say a thing was done after three or seven days, if it was done on the third or seventh day, from that which was last mentioned. Instances of this may be seen, 1 Kings 20:29; and in many other places. And as the Hebrews had no word to express a natural day, they used night and day, or day and night for it. So that to say a thing happened after three days and three nights, was with them the very same, as to say, it happened after three days, or on the third day. See Esther 4:16; 5:1; Gen 7:4,12; Exod 24:18; 34:28. Jonah 2:1.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://jfb.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li >This was the second public announcement of His resurrection three days after His death. (For the first, see Joh 2:19). Jonah's case was analogous to this, as being a signal judgment of God; reversed in three days; and followed by a glorious mission to the Gentiles.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/12-41.htm" >41</a>The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li >Shall condemn it - That is, their conduct, in repenting under the preaching of Jonah, shall condemn this generation. They, ignorant and wicked pagan, repented when threatened with "temporal" judgment by a mere man - Jonah; you, Jews, professing to be enlightened, though threatened for your great wickedness with eternal punishment "by the Son of God" - a far greater being than Jonah - repent not, and must therefore meet with a far heavier condemnation.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li >The men of Nineveh shell rise in judgment - The voice of God, threatening temporal judgments, caused a whole people to repent, who had neither Moses nor Christ, neither the law nor the prophets; and who perhaps never had but this one preacher among them. What judgment may not we expect, if we continue impenitent, after all that God has bestowed upon us?</li>

<li >A greater than Jonas is here - Πλειον, for τι πλειον, something more. The evidence offered by Jonah sufficed to convince and lead the Ninevites to repentance; but here was more evidence, and a greater person; and yet so obstinate are the Jews that all is ineffectual.

<ul>

<li >1. Christ, who preached to the Jews, was infinitely greater than Jonah, in his nature, person, and mission.</li>

<li >2. Jonah preached repentance in Nineveh only forty days, and Christ preached among the Jews for several years.</li>

<li >3. Jonah wrought no miracles to authorize his preaching; but Christ wrought miracles every day, in every place where he went, and of every kind. And</li>

<li >4. Notwithstanding all this, the people of Judea did not repent, though the people of Nineveh did.</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li >in this sense the word is used in the Talmud (o); where having related how Hillell, though a poor man, and R. Eleazar, though a rich man, studied in the law, and Joseph, though youthful, gay, and beautiful, withstood the importunities of his mistress, it is observed, that Hillell "condemned" the poor; and R. Eleazar ben Harsum condemned the rich; and Joseph condemned the wicked: in like manner, the Ninevites will condemn the Jews,</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://vws.biblecommenter.com/matthew/12.htm" >Vincent's Word Studies</a>

<ul>

<li >Shall rise up (ἀναστήσονται)</li>

<li >Rev., stand up. Come forward as witnesses. Compare <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/job/16-9.htm">Job 16:9</a>, Sept.; <a href="http://bible.cc/mark/14-57.htm">Mark 14:57</a>. There is no reference to rising from the dead. Similarly shall rise up, <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/12-42.htm">Matthew 12:42</a>. Compare <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/11-11.htm">Matthew 11:11</a>;<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/24-11.htm">Matthew 24:11</a>.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/12-42.htm" >42</a>The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/isaiah/60.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

Isaiah 60:6

All they from Sheba shall come - Sheba is celebrated in the Scriptures chiefly as the place from where the Queen of that country came to visit Solomon <a href="http://bible.cc/1_kings/10-1.htm" >1 Kings 10:1</a>; <a href="http://bible.cc/2_chronicles/9-1.htm" >2 Chronicles 9:1</a>. That it abounded in wealth, may be inferred from the train which accompanied her, and from the presents with which she came to Solomon. 'And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and much fine gold, and precious stones' <a href="http://bible.cc/1_kings/10-2.htm" >1 Kings 10:2</a>. Whether it was the same country as Seba has been a matter of uncertainty (compare the notes at <a href="http://bible.cc/isaiah/43-3.htm" >Isaiah 43:3</a>). It is elsewhere <a href="http://bible.cc/psalms/72-10.htm" >Psalm 72:10</a> mentioned as a place from where presents should be brought to Solomon: