[arcura]

Today's gospel lesson...
Luke 11: 29. When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
30. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.
31. The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
32. The men of Nineveh will arise 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.
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:confused:So what do you make of this passage and in particular the part that speaks of the queen of the South and the citizens of Nineveh arising to condemn that generation and who will arise to condemn this one do you think?:confused:
:)Peace and kindness,:)
Fred

[jakester]

arcura -

My take is that this is a very particular rebuke made to the Jews. Jesus is invoking the belief of a gentile (Queen of Sheba) and the belief of the entire city of Nineveh (alson Gentile) and contrasting it with the unbelief of the Jews.

What is so notable here is that in the examples Jesus uses, Jonah and Solomon were mere men of God and they spoke not with the "full" wisdom of God. Jesus on the other hand, being the one in whom the spirit of wisdom and holiness dwelled, came to reveal the true wisdom as from God. Jonah's message was no doubt directly from God, but it lacked any profound content. Yet it was enough information for the Ninehvites to believe. Solomon was the wisest man to live but yet he was still woefully inadequate in holiness. Yet the Queen of Sheba was moved enough to come and hear his wisdom because she understood it was God who gave it to him. In Jesus, there was a revelation of wisdom and insight such that the world had never seen before and purity and holiness that no man had ever known... and yet the Jews refused to listen to him and instead asked for more signs when no amount of signs would convince them. This, I think, is the force of the rebuke.

Now then, regarding the part about the men of Nineveh, Sheba, and the wicked generation rising together in the day of judgment (or the judgment). What I understand Jesus to be saying is that when God stands up to judge the world on the day of Judgment, as it pertains to that generation of Jews, the deeds of Gentile believers will be used as evidence against them in God's courtroom. The fact that Sheba and the men of Nineveh responded to God positively with such little need for signs or wonders is a shame to the Jews of that generation who refused to believe in the Messiah, even after he had both taught them and performed signs and wonders.

That's my take, anyway.

[JoeT777]

arcura -

my take is that this is a very particular rebuke made to the Jews. Jesus is invoking the belief of a gentile (Queen of Sheba) and the belief of the entire city of Nineveh (alson Gentile) and contrasting it with the unbelief of the Jews.

What is so notable here is that in the examples Jesus uses, Jonah and Solomon were mere men of God and they spoke not with the "full" wisdom of God. Jesus on the other hand, being the one in whom the spirit of wisdom and holiness dwelled, came to reveal the true wisdom as from God. Jonah's message was no doubt directly from God, but it lacked any profound content. Yet it was enough information for the Ninehvites to believe. Solomon was the wisest man to live but yet he was still woefully inadequate in holiness. Yet the Queen of Sheba was moved enough to come and hear his wisdom because she understood it was God who gave it to him. In Jesus, there was a revelation of wisdom and insight such that the world had never seen before and purity and holiness that no man had ever known....and yet the Jews refused to listen to him and instead asked for more signs when no amount of signs would convince them. This, I think, is the force of the rebuke.

Now then, regarding the part about the men of Nineveh, Sheba, and the wicked generation rising together in the day of judgment (or the judgment). What I understand Jesus to be saying is that when God stands up to judge the world on the day of Judgment, as it pertains to that generation of Jews, the deeds of Gentile believers will be used as evidence against them in God's courtroom. The fact that Sheba and the men of Nineveh responded to God positively with such little need for signs or wonders is a shame to the Jews of that generation who refused to believe in the Messiah, even after he had both taught them and performed signs and wonders.

That's my take, anyway.

Very good, I agree with your conclusions. Matthew has a similar verse with the same connotations; “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. And he left them, and went away.” (Matt 16:4) But, I might turn it more towards the positive rewards of redemption in that Ninevehians received by their faith. I think this is more to the point; why show signs, you just wouldn’t believe it; especially if you don’t believe in the redemptive words given Nineveh. The minister sent intends for you to be redeemed, signs aren’t necessary if you really believe.


JoeT

[arcura]

Jakester and Joe.
Both of your posts were very good.
I wonder who will rise up to condemn this wicked generation with all its wars and abortions.
Thanks
Fred