Luke 11:29-32

Luke 11:29-32

And He began to say about the crowds that gathered together, “This generation is a wicked generation.  It desires signs, and yet signs will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah.  For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, in the same way the Son of Man will also be to this generation.  The queen of the south will be raised up in judgment with the men of this generation and she will condemn them because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.  And behold, one greater than Solomon is here!  Men of Nineveh will rise in judgment with men of this generation and condemn them because they repented at the preaching of Jonah.  And behold, one greater than Jonah is here!

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus has moxie.  A crowd has gathered.  He already knows that He is heading towards Jerusalem for the end of His earthly life.  Yet what does He do?  He stands up and insults the people.  He calls them a group of people who aren’t smart enough to go out and get what they want, even if it is placed right beneath their noses.  What is His point?  Some people can be won to God through logic.  Other people can be won through displays of power.  Still other people can be won through displays of love.  But there are some who simply do not desire to be listened.  Such people can only be confronted with the truth and left to make their own decision.  That’s essentially what Jesus is doing here.

Have you ever met someone who refused to soften their heart?  When has your heart been hard?

Second Thought:

Within this teaching, Jesus gives two historical references.  Let’s look at the reference to the queen of the south.  She is praised because she travelled far to receive what she could not get in her own land: Solomon’s wisdom.  She was willing to go out and pursue what she needed.  She was not at the advantage of having wisdom in her midst, but she pursued it because she understood its importance.  If she can pursue wisdom wherever it can be found, then there is no excuse for people who have God in their midst and refuse to take advantage and listen!

Where is God in your midst?  Where is God in your community?  When are you willing to pursue wisdom?  When are you resistant to pursuing wisdom?

Third Thought:

The second historical reference that Jesus gives is the note about Nineveh.  Jonah goes to Nineveh and proclaims their destruction and judgment.  The people repent and Nineveh is saved when God relents from the disaster that was intended.  What is Jesus’ point here in this passage?  Jesus is saying that smart people are willing to listen to criticism, especially when the criticism is warranted and honest.  The people of Nineveh repent from their ways and find themselves saved.  Anyone who is unwilling to repent is worthy of the judgment that comes down upon them – especially if they have been warned.

Where are you warned of judgment?  Where are you willing to repent and change your ways?  Where are you still unwilling to repent and change?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 11:33-36