38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher , we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, " An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign ; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet ; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER , so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth . 41 " The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment , and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah ; and behold , something greater than Jonah is here . 42 " The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon ; and behold , something greater than Solomon is here .
43 " Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man , it passes through waterless places seeking rest , and does not find it. 44 "Then it says , 'I will return to my house from which I came '; and when it comes , it finds it unoccupied , swept , and put in order . 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself , and they go in and live there ; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first . That is the way it will also be with this evil generation ."
46 While He was still speaking to the crowds , behold , His mother and brothers were standing outside , seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, "Behold , Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said , "Who is My mother and who are My brothers ?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples , He said , "Behold My mother and My brothers ! 50 "For whoever e does the will of My Father who is in heaven , he is My brother and sister and mother ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 12:38-50
Commentary on Matthew 12:38-45
(Read Matthew 12:38-45)
Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again. The Ninevites would shame the Jews for not repenting; the queen of Sheba, for not believing in Christ. And we have no such cares to hinder us, we come not to Christ upon such uncertainties. This parable represents the case of the Jewish church and nation. It is also applicable to all those who hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly converted. The unclean spirit leaves for a time, but when he returns, he finds Christ is not there to shut him out; the heart is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to comply with evil suggestions, and the man becomes a more decided enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residence of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by faith in Christ.
Commentary on Matthew 12:46-50
(Read Matthew 12:46-50)
Christ's preaching was plain, easy, and familiar, and suited to his hearers. His mother and brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him, when they should have been standing within, desiring to hear him. Frequently, those who are nearest to the means of knowledge and grace are most negligent. We are apt to neglect that which we think we may have any day, forgetting that to-morrow is not ours. We often meet with hinderances in our work from friends about us, and are taken off by care for the things of this life, from the concerns of our souls. Christ was so intent on his work, that no natural or other duty took him from it. Not that, under pretence of religion, we may be disrespectful to parents, or unkind to relations; but the lesser duty must stand by, while the greater is done. Let us cease from men, and cleave to Christ; let us look upon every Christian, in whatever condition of life, as the brother, sister, or mother of the Lord of glory; let us love, respect, and be kind to them, for his sake, and after his example.