The Sign of Jonah and the Queen of the South

[This is a devotional/study I put together for my department at work (Christian organization)]

Jesus talks about the sign of Jonah and the Queen of the South together in both Matthew and Luke’s gospel. He makes His point speaking to Pharisees and Scribes as well as to other people. 

Can’t you hear some people saying: “Oh no, not Pharisees again. We do not have any Pharisees anymore and Scribes went out with the printing press. This is another example of how the Bible is not relevant these days.” 

This is where we need to understand the principle Jesus is getting at and not get caught up with the particulars of the story. Too many people do not want the Bible to be relevant so it gives them the opportunity to do what they want with no consequences. As we go forward, consider that you may be the Pharisees or scribes in these verses. 

Let’s first look at how Matthew relates the story. 

Matthew 12:38-42 (ESV)

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.

Let’s identify the main people Jesus is referring to: Jonah, Men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South

- Who was Jonah and what did he do or not do? 

- Who were the Men of Nineveh and why were they important to the Jews? 

- Who was the Queen of the South and what did she do? 

Jonah 

- Tried to flee God when God told him to go to Nineveh and preach there. 

- Almost killed the crew of the boat he was on because God created such a storm. 

- Allowed himself to be thrown into the water to calm the storm. 

- Was swallowed by a huge fish and spent 3 days in its belly. 

- Was vomited out and finally went to Nineveh to preach. 

The Men of Nineveh 

- At the time of Jonah, Nineveh was the capital of the largest and most powerful empire of the world – Assyria – and a huge threat to Israel. 

- The Men of Nineveh were unbelievers. 

- God was going to bring judgment on them like he had Sodom and Gomorrah because they were so evil. - Once Jonah got there and preached, they repented and were spared. 

- These Men of Nineveh will be in the Kingdom. 

The Queen of the South 

- Also known as the Queen of Sheba. 

- Lived in the Southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and/or Eastern Ethiopia. 

- Heard of Solomon’s riches and wisdom. 

- She came to see for herself and to test him with hard questions (2 Chronicles 9:1) 

- She left saying: 

1 Kings 10:6-9 (ESV)

6 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 

- The Queen of Sheba will be in the Kingdom   

Now that we have some background, what did each of these three represent to us? 

- What is significant about Jonah allowing himself to be thrown in the sea and then spending 3 days in the belly of a fish before being vomited out on the shore? 

- What is significant about Jonah going to Nineveh, preaching and the men of Nineveh repenting? 

- What is significant about the Queen of Sheba coming to Solomon and finding what she did? 

Answers: 

- Jonah is a foreshadowing of Jesus who willingly gave himself up to be killed, was in the grave for 3 days and then was resurrected. 

- The Men of Nineveh represent those in the world who do not have faith in Jesus and who will be condemned to eternal death unless they are preached to. 

- The Queen of Sheba represents those in the world who are seeking Jesus. If Solomon had not answered her tough questions and did not have such a happy kingdom, then she would have, likely, turned from God. 

Let’s look at Luke’s version now that we have more context: 

Luke 11:29-32 (ESV)

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up 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 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.

- How are these verses different to you now? 

- Why does Jesus say, “This generation is an evil generation”? 

- Where do you fit in to this story? 

     o Are you one of the unbelieving Men of Nineveh? 

     o Are you like the seeking Queen of Sheba? 

     o Are you like Jonah and running from God’s desire to spread His word even to your enemies? 

     o Are you like Solomon who can answer the tough questions and share God’s glories with people, even those who are from far away who are not like you? 

     o Or do you simply want God to do a bunch of magic tricks in order to keep you entertained while you do your own thing? 

Interestingly, the next set of verses in Luke’s Gospel talks about light. 

Luke 11:33-36 (ESV)

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

- What is the light and how can “the light in you be darkness”? 

- Who is the light? 

- What are we to do with the light? 

- Are you doing what God wants you to do with the light you have?