The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate sign of his identity. Comparing himself with the Old Testament prophet Jonah, Jesus is referring to what would soon take place – his death and resurrection three days later (vv.39–40). However, Jesus’ reply turns the tables on them. When they say to Jesus, ‘How about a miracle?’ (v.38, MSG), it is as though they are putting Jesus under cross-examination. They have already seen plenty of miraculous signs from Jesus, but they refuse to acknowledge that Jesus’ power is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees and teachers of the law may have been in danger since they attribute Jesus’ healing power to the prince of demons (vv.22–24). The only ‘unforgivable sin’ is to refuse to repent and turn to Christ, resisting his Holy Spirit throughout your life. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven if you repent and ask God’s forgiveness. However, if you are worried about it, it is almost certain you have not committed it.
Sometimes people worry that they have committed the ‘unforgivable sin’. Jesus says that every sin will be forgiven except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (vv.30–32). You need the help of the Holy Spirit – filling your heart with his love and good fruit. You cannot change your thought patterns on your own. Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in them’ (vv.34–35). Jesus says, ‘… out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Fill your heart with good things and you will think good thoughts, speak good words and bear good fruit (v.33). Be careful what you look at, read and think about. Joyce Meyer writes, ‘Every word we speak can either be a brick to build or a bulldozer to destroy.’ Whatever is stored up in your heart will sooner or later be expressed by your words. Commentary Go on being filled with the Holy Spirit
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”ģ8 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”ģ9 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 35 Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and an evil people brings evil things out of the evil stored up in them. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For tout of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. He promises that God will ‘keep his eye on’ you (v.8, MSG) and ‘protect you, and… guard you’ (vv.8,11).ģ3 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. Because of God’s character he ‘gives wisdom’ and ‘understanding’ (v.6), ‘victory’ (v.7), protection (v.8) and ‘discretion’ (v.11). You will ‘find the knowledge of God’ (v.5). Set aside a regular time to read the Bible and schedule it as a top priority. Don’t just prioritise your schedule schedule your priorities. ‘Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt’ (v.4, MSG). You need to ‘accept’ (v.1), listen and apply (v.2), ‘call out’ (v.3) and ‘search’ (v.4). The writer of Proverbs urges, ‘ store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding… For wisdom will enter your heart’ (vv.1–2,10). Make a lifelong, daily habit of reading God’s word. Commentary Store up God’s word in your heartĭo you long to know God better? Would you like to be wiser, more skilful and to have more knowledge and understanding?
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORDĪnd find the knowledge of God.
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