Matthew 12: 38-42 ESV Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 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.
Matthew chapter 12, verses 22 to 42 are all one story. It starts with Jesus healing a demon oppressed man and concludes with this rebuke. After Jesus heals the man, some Pharisees accuse Him of doing so by demonic power. Jesus refutes their accusation, warns them against blasphemy, and tells them their accusation proves the evil in their heart. In other words, they tried to turn the crowd against Him and He gives them a verbal spanking.
The exchange in this passage is the Pharisees again trying to take control and Jesus giving them a verbal/theological smack-down. Basically, the Pharisees tell Jesus, “Prove Yourself!” This is a tactic used by someone losing the argument or who feels they are being defeated, to try and take control. If they can convince their opponent to prove themselves, then they are back in control acting as the judge.
Jesus doesn’t take the bait. He tells them, “No! You’ll get what the Father chooses to give you.” Jesus makes it clear that He is the one in control. He will do what God wants, not what men challenge or dare Him to do. After all, He had just healed a man. If they really wanted a sign, there it was.
Still today people try to take control of their interaction with God. Often times this takes the form of, “I’ll believe if/when ______.” Usually this means the person is convicted but doesn’t want to submit so they issue a challenge to God to prove Himself. Then when He doesn’t perform, they can tell themselves that they gave God a chance.
Another variation is, “I’ll follow You if _____.” Here they are giving terms to God, negotiating for a “better” deal. As before, they are probably feeling God’s tug but are not willing to part with something they instinctively knew they will have to surrender. This frequently involves holding on to a favorite sin or belief system that is at odds with the Bible.
God will not perform and He does not negotiate. He calls and He pursues but we either come to Him on His terms and at His timing or we do not come at all.
Having said that, God is also loving and merciful. There are occasions when He does honor a sincere seeker’s request for confirmation. Those occasions are when the person is issuing a request for help to believe rather than a challenge. Even then, God knows our heart and we cannot manipulate Him.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for calling me to be Your child. I know that I can only have a relationship with You based on the truths set forth in Your Word.