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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
There is a direct connection between Paul's admonition to receive The Love of the Truth in 2 Thessalonians 2.10 and many of the teachings of Jesus. Today, we introduce one of the many passages from the ministry of Jesus in which this fact is evident. It is a lengthy passage but we cite it in its entirety because of our intent to dwell here for some time. It is literally filled with meaning, much of it quite subtle, which has to do with our major topic. Read with care the following text!
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.' But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For 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. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.'” (Matthew 12.38-45).
Note some similarities between the text in 2 Thessalonians 2 and the passage just cited. Both of them deal with signs. Both of them deal with deception. Both of them deal with hearts that are demented and apparently incapable of seeing the truth when set before them. Both of them deal in some way with the powers of darkness. Both of them are somewhat unique to the circumstances at hand but have larger application to future generations. Both of them invite careful consideration lest we find ourselves in the lamentable condition of those described therein. For these and other reasons, our focus will be centered on these verses for some time. As a reader, you are bidden not to grow weary in considering these texts but to be sustained by your determination to understand and apply God's truths that they contain.
In the limited space and time remaining, we will pose some fundamental questions that arise from a study of the text quoted above. In the course of the next few days, we will address these questions whether done explicitly or simply by implication in our study. Here are a few of the questions that arise: Was it wrong for the people speaking to Jesus to seek a sign? Why was He so seemingly harsh on them, calling them an evil and adulterous generation? How did Jonah's experience with the great fish have anything to do with Jesus and His ministry? What was Jesus saying when He pulled from history the stories of Nineveh and the queen of the South? Why did He introduce the story about the man who was once purged from an unclean spirit only to be possessed in the end by others more powerful and damning? When He said, “So shall it also be with this wicked generation,” was the situation hopeless for all who lived then or only for some of that generation? If only for some, what could the others do to avoid the fate of those whom He called wicked?
It is hoped that these questions will whet your appetite enough to bring you back again as we continue this vital study!
Questions:
1. Besides those mentioned above, what other similarities can you find between the text in Matthew 12 and the one in 2 Thessalonians 2?
2. What is a “sign” as mentioned and implied by its usage in today's text?
3. When Jesus spoke of Jonah and his sign, does that authenticate in any way the book of Jonah?
4. Why should we be interested in the meaning and application of Matthew 12.43-45?
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