Gospel of Matthew 12:38-41
An evil generation seeks a sign[1] — Jonah
Certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we would like to see a sign from you. But he answered, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign; but no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
"The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, one greater than Jonah is here."
Comment on the Scripture
Christ is asked for a sign, not by his followers as a blessing, but by his sceptics and detractors as a challenge. He calls them an evil and "adulterous" generation. During this period of his ministry, Christ often derided the "current generation", comparing it unfavorably to previous periods of more devout adherence to the law and acceptance of prophets.
Here, he first compares the scepticism of the Hebrew officials unfavorably to the repentance of the gentile Ninevens. The sign he promises is the sign of Jonah — Christ will be in the earth buried for three days, as Jonah was in the whale's belly for three days and given up for dead; and like Jonah, Christ will give glory to God by his (actual) resurrection as Jonah did by his (perceived) resurrection. But unlike the Ninevens, the Pharisees will not accept the sign, even though Christ is greater than Jonah.
Christ then makes a shocking statement. The heathen Ninevens, who glorified God when Jonah was saved, will "stand in the judgment", i.e. be qualified for salvation on the day of judgment. They will condemn the Pharisees. He implies that the Pharisees of that generation, who witnessed Christ's life and did not repent, may lose the salvation they expect from the First Covenant.
