Matthew 12:38-45 - Homiletics

Further manifestation of unbelief.

I. THE SIGN FROM HEAVEN .

1 . The demand of the scribes and Pharisees. They had just witnessed a wonderful sign, a striking evidence of the Divine authority of Christ. Some of them wickedly accused the Lord of dealings with Satan; others, less brutal, but equally obstinate in their unbelief, demanded further proof. It must be some visible appearance in the sky, they said ( Luke 11:16 ); nothing else would satisfy them.

2 . The Lord ' s reply. He knew their hearts; it was an evil and corrupt generation; corrupt at heart and false to the living God who had betrothed the ancient Church to himself. He knew that they were only tempting him. They had had proof enough of his mission, his most holy life, his Divine teaching, his wonderful works. But they were obstinate; they hardened their hearts in unbelief, and now they prescribed the kind of evidence which they required. The Lord knew that it would not convince them; he would not work a miracle to satisfy unbelieving curiosity. He would work miracles in abundance to relieve the sick and helpless, but not one to amuse the curious and to display his power. Yet there should be a sign, and a mighty one. The Lord himself, his own incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension, was the stupendous Sign from heaven, sufficient, and more than sufficient, to convince the honest seeker after truth. As the Prophet Jonah lay hidden in the fish's belly, so would he lie buried in the grave; and as Jonah was restored to the upper air by the power of God, so would he rise again in the majesty of his triumphant resurrection.

II. CONTRAST OF THEIR UNBELIEF WITH THE BELIEF OF THE HEATHEN .

1 . The men of Nineveh. Jonah preached to them; they repented. What was the preaching of Jonah compared with the Lord's deep and holy teaching? The Ninevites had not the privileges of these scribes and Pharisees; their example condemned them; it was a presage of the coming judgment.

2 . The queen of the south. She came a long toilsome journey to hear the wisdom of Solomon; her example condemned the Jews. Christ was with them, preaching in their synagogues; they would not come to him that they might have life. And he was greater than Solomon—greater in wisdom, greater in royal majesty. Could he say this of himself without arrogance unless he were (what we know he is) the Word of God, who in the beginning was with God, and himself was God? We read the histories of holy men and women; they are full of interest; they are also full of solemn warning. What others have done by the grace of God, that we too can do. We have, perhaps, the same privileges, perhaps greater. Certainly we have the same grace to help us. Let us be in earnest; let us truly repent like the Ninevites; let us listen to the heavenly wisdom of Christ, as the Queen of Sheba listened to the wisdom of Solomon.

III. WARNING OF INCREASING DANGER .

1 . The miracle just wrought. Christ had cast out the evil spirit: would the man who had thus been saved from the presence of Satan give his heart to the merciful Saviour? If he would not receive the Holy Spirit into the heart that now was empty, the evil one might return; he was ever restless, seeking whom he might devour, burning always with unsatisfied malice; if he returned, the last state of that man would be worse than the first. Mercies despised expose men to sorer assaults of temptation.

2 . Application to that wicked generation. God had been long-suffering with his chosen people; by his chastisements, by the teaching of his prophets, the old demon of idolatry had been cast out. The house was swept and garnished; it had outward adornments enough in the rites and ceremonies of the temple-worship, and the strict rules and formalisms of the scribes and Pharisees. But, alas! it was empty. There was One who claimed that house as his own, the true Lord of the dwelling, but him they would not receive. The evil spirit would return, and seven others with them—the demons of hypocrisy and hardness of heart, and bitterness, and party spirit, and hatred of spiritual religion, and such-like. And the last state would be worse than the first; it would be more evil, it would end in more awful condemnation. Christ is knocking at the door of our hearts; if we receive him not, the evil spirit will surely enter in. The heart empty of God is ready for the presence of Satan; he will return in greater force than ever. The house may be swept and garnished by education and refinement; but the devil can be kept out only by the presence of him who is stronger than the strong man armed. Let us, then, receive Christ into our souls. The peace of God keepeth, as with a garrison, the heart and thoughts of those in whom the Holy Spirit dwelleth; the evil one cannot enter.

LESSONS .

1 . There is evidence in abundance of the truth of Christianity; only receive it with an honest heart.

2 . The histories of past conversions furnish a convincing proof of the power of God's grace; read them, and try to profit by them.

3 . Open the heart to Christ; seek his presence there above all things; trust nothing less.