38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
39But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For 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. 41The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
Some of the scribes and Pharisees wanted to see a sign. What kind of sign were they seeking? Jesus had performed many miracles, but apparently they weren't sign enough for these Pharisees. It says they answered with this request. Answered what? Jesus' statement that a tree is known by its fruit? Could they not recognize the fruit of Jesus' preaching without some specific sign? Did they need a sign before they would be willing to believe what Jesus preached?
Jesus said He would give them no sign right now. He has performed many miracles, and will perform many more, but He has never done them as signs. Many could take these miracles as signs, but Jesus' reason for performing them have nothing to do with signs, but as acts of compassion.
Though there is one thing He plans to do as a sign for this evil and adulterous generation, the sign of the prophet Jonah. Just as Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the whale, Jesus will die for 3 days and nights. I had never before thought of Jesus' death of 3 days being done as a sign. I suppose there are many ways that God could have handled Jesus' death for our sins. There was no reason Jesus had to be dead for 3 days for our sins, all He needed was to die for us. But apparently the fact that He remained in the tomb for 3 days before His resurrection was simply as a sign. This is the one sign that He performed. And the reason He did it was for this evil and adulterous generation. Yes, he showed compassion even to an evil and adulterous generation by giving them a sign which they felt they so needed. But the sign wouldn't come till after his death.
There are those who repented after hearing Jonah preach. And there are those who came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Why is it that there some who are affected by Jonah and Solomon, and others who are not at all influenced by Jesus who is much greater than Jonah and Solomon, who want some sign before they say they will believe?
Will the sign of 3 days death followed by resurrection be enough of a sign for this generation? We know there are many who resist believing this sign, many who try to explain it away in a variety of other ways. True belief doesn't come from signs. I think Jesus knew this. That is why He refused to simply give them some sign as they requested. Jesus knew that their evil and adulterous heart would disavow whatever sign He gave them.
So where does true belief come from? It comes from within. It comes from repentance as the people of Nineveh did. It comes from seeking wisdom as the queen of the South did. Belief will never simply come to us as a sign, it will only come from us seeking it.
These Pharisees do not know what they are missing. They have the greatest preacher possible in front of them and yet they do not repent. They have the wisest man ever in front of them and yet they do not seek His wisdom. They want a sign. They will get a sign. But then they will not have Jesus in a bodily presence before them anymore. It will be more difficult to hear His message. It will be more difficult to seek His wisdom.
Sure, you may be comfortable with your life. But do not wait for a sign that you need to make changes. Examine your life. Determine any area of your life that you could use Jesus' help with, and repent of your ways. Continuously seek His wisdom. You do not know what opportunities may or may not arise again. Do not be as stubborn as these Pharisees and miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Jesus wants to help you if you but seek His help.