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Matthew 12:40
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The Scribes and Pharisees Ask for a Sign

38 aThen some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”  
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.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; aand the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”  

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, abehold, His mother and bbrothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.  
47 Then one said to Him, “Look, aYour mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”  
Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
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Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40 As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly. See Jonah 1:17. The great fish was probably not a whale (the Greek is "ketos", "sea monster"), but a white shark, which abounds in the Mediterranean, and is said to swallow a horse whole. The miracle was the preservation of the life of Jonah during his living burial. This was a type of the burial and resurrection of Christ. So shall the Son of man be three days and three nights. Jesus says that he will "be raised again the third day" (Matthew 16:21). Hence, in Jewish usage "the third day" must mean the same as "three days and three nights". It was and is customary with the Orientals to make any part of the day stand for the whole twenty-four hours. Compare Matthew 16:21 Mr 8:31 2Ch 10:5 10:12 Es 4:16 Ge 7:4,12 Ex 24:18 34:28. A traveler in the East writes: "At length the tenth morning arrived—the tenth morning because, though we performed nominally ten days quarantine, yet it was, really, only eight days. We landed at nine o'clock in the evening of the first day, and were liberated at six o'clock in the morning of the tenth day, but it was held to be ten days according to the custom of the East.' Christ was buried Friday evening, lay in the grave Saturday, and rose Sunday, parts of three days, rose "on the third day", and was in the grave the space of time meant in eastern usage by three days and three nights. In the heart of the earth. In the sepulcher.




Other People's Commentary (NT) entries containing Matthew 12:40:

Matthew 12:39
Matthew 12:40
Luke 11:14-26
Luke 11:29-32

 

<< Matthew 12:39   Matthew 12:41 >>

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