Section 12:38–45

Jesus rebuked those who asked for a sign

In this section, the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders increases. Jesus had already said several times that he was someone special. He said that he was greater than the temple (12:6). He said that he was Lord of the Sabbath (12:8). In this section, the religious leaders wanted to see a miraculous sign to confirm that he was really from God.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for asking for a sign, and he refused to give them an immediate sign. A sign would come later. It would be the sign of Jonah. By referring to the sign of Jonah, Jesus meant that he would be in the grave three days (12:40) before God resurrected him. He then told two stories and said that he was greater than Jonah and Solomon. Jesus warned them that if they did not recognize God’s work among them, they would be condemned.

Finally, Jesus told a story to warn the religious leaders of the spiritual dangers that faced them if they did not have the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The religious leaders ask for a sign/miracle
-or-
The sign of Jonah

There is a parallel passage for 12:38–42 in Luke 11:29–32. There is a parallel passage for 12:43–45 in Luke 11:24–26.

Paragraph 12:38–42

12:38a

Then: The events in this section probably happened soon after the events in the previous section. The Greek indicates how closely these events happened with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then.

Here are some other ways to begin this section:

After that
-or-
Next

scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes can also be translated as “teacher of the law” (as in the New International Version). This word also occurs in 9:3a. You should translate it here as you did there. For help in translating this word, see the note at 2:4a.

Pharisees: This word also occurs in 12:24a.

said to Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated here means “answered.” It indicates that the scribes and Pharisees responded to Jesus’ words in 12:34–37. It does not indicate that they were answering a question.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

answered him, saying (English Standard Version)
-or-
said (Contemporary English Version)

12:38b

Teacher: Here, the word Teacher refers to a religious teacher. It was a polite title for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. Use a title that is an appropriate way to address a religious teacher in your culture. It should not refer only to a school teacher.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Sir
-or-
Master

This word also occurs in 8:19b.

we want to see a sign from You: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sign refers to a special miracle which is regarded as having some special meaning. (This is the first time in Matthew that this word occurs.) The Pharisees and scribes had already seen Jesus heal many sick people. So they were not just asking Jesus to do another miracle of healing. They wanted Jesus to do a special miracle to make it plain that God had sent him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

we want you to show us a sign from heaven (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God (New Living Translation (1996))

-or-

please do a miracle that will show us that God has sent you

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