Verse of the Day 4/12

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 9-12, Luke 14:7-24

 

Good morning,

Many of us ( if not most) have asked God for a sign at some point in our lives, most often when seeking direction on making an important decision in our lives.  The pharisees in Luke chapter 11 asked for a sign as well.  They asked it to test Jesus and His authority.

Luke 11:16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.    NKJV

 

Today's verse comes a little further on in the chapter where Jesus spoke out against the pharisees and the crowd for questioning His authority and ignoring His message.

 

Luke 11:31 "The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 32 The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.   NLT

Henry Wansbrough writes," the sign of Jonah is understood as His preaching of repentance.  Jesus' own preaching of repentance is compared to that of Jonah.  The difference lies in the response: the men of Ninevah responded to the preaching of Jonah, by contrast to the present generation.  Similarly, the Queen of Sheba responded with her admiration to the wisdom of Solomon.  Both will come forward at the judgement in witness against those who failed to respond to the one who was greater than the wisdom of Solomon and more forcefull than the preaching of Jonah."

 

The Pharisees fussed about ritual cleansing rather than generosity. They were more concerned about the minute details of tithing than sharing God's love,  They sought recognition and important, high visibility seats in the synagogue and functions instead of reaching out and lifting up those in need.

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The Pharisees were indifferent to the words of Jesus unless he would give them a sign.  Jesus was trying to correct the viewpoint or world view of the  Pharisees,the listeners of that day and readers today.  Instead of questioning His authority in your life, take Him at His Word and He will reveal Himself to you.

 

Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."   NLT.
 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Luke 11:29-33

The Sign of Jonah

 

29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, "This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. 30 What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.

 

31 "The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 32 The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

NLT