Worse off than before: Matthew 12:38-45

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.

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.

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.

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.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Jesus has very strong words for those who question him and want a sign because these are the ones who God chose to work his plan of salvation through, yet they are ignorant of it happening as it happens. That is why he refers to the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, both are examples of non-Jewish people seeing the what God is doing and paying attention.

Then Jesus speaks about the evil spirit going back to where it has been removed, and this time reeking even more havoc. It is the same for the chosen Jewish people who deny the work of Jesus Christ, they have been cleansed yet their denial makes it worse for them than if they had never been chosen.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, your plan of salvation is often beyond our comprehension. Please give us your Spirit to understand and trust in your work. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.