Matthew 12:41

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39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and ^aadulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 ^aFor 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.

41 ^aThe men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and ^bcondemn it, ^cbecause they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

42 ^aThe queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit Returns

43 ^a“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, ^bhe goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Matthew 12:41

The men of Nineveh shell rise in judgment - The voice of God, threatening temporal judgments, caused a whole people to repent, who had neither Moses nor Christ, neither the law nor the prophets; and who perhaps never had but this one preacher among them. What judgment may not we expect, if we continue impenitent, after all that God has bestowed upon us?

A greater than Jonas is here - , for , something more. The evidence offered by Jonah sufficed to convince and lead the Ninevites to repentance; but here was more evidence, and a greater person; and yet so obstinate are the Jews that all is ineffectual.

1.Christ, who preached to the Jews, was infinitely greater than Jonah, in his nature, person, and mission.

2.Jonah preached repentance in Nineveh only forty days, and Christ preached among the Jews for several years.

3.Jonah wrought no miracles to authorize his preaching; but Christ wrought miracles every day, in every place where he went, and of every kind. And

4.Notwithstanding all this, the people of Judea did not repent, though the people of Nineveh did.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 12:41:**

Luke 11:29

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Matthew 12:42 >>

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