This week we continue in our study through the gospel according to Matthew as we consider Matthew 12:38-50. After the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you," Jesus replies, "No sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." Jesus declares that the people of Nineveh and the queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, and behold, something greater than Jonah and Solomon is here. Using an illustration of unclean spirits, Jesus describes that the last state of the person is worse than the first and so will it be with this evil generation. Jesus is pointing out the danger of empty religion as well as the danger of rejecting Jesus while trying to clean up your life apart from him. A kind of pride that trusts in our own efforts leads to something much worse. The true children of God are those who hear Jesus and respond in repentance and faith. This faith overflows in doing the will of the Father in heaven.

Would God give us grace not to settle for surface change or to look to ourselves for the power of change. We don't need to look for signs in our life if God is with us, if Jesus is true, or if his love and forgiveness is real. We look to the sign of the prophet Jonah and trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. By the grace of God and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit we do the will of the Father as his dependent, beloved children.