Today's Daily Bread

GREATER THAN JONAH

Date : Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Passage : Matthew 12:38~50
Keyverse : 50  
38
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
39
He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43
"When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
44
Then it says, ’I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
45
Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
46
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47
Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48
He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
49
Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
50
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
In their attempt to put Jesus through more tests, the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked for more signs (38). Although signs led many to believe in Jesus (23), the Pharisees’ motive was not to seek truth but to rebel against the work of the Holy Spirit (28).

Jesus called them ‘a wicked and adulterous generation’, for their stubborn hearts against the truth revealed through Jesus. The notorious Ninevites repented sincerely at Jonah’s preaching without any signs. The queen of the south came to hear Solomon’s teaching out of her thirst for the truth. However, the Jewish leaders in Jesus’ time kept their hearts hard toward the gospel even as the Messiah lived among them, walking the walk and teaching them the secrets of heaven. As they had inherited spiritual blessings, they were expected to produce more fruit (Lk 12:48).

Your family or social background can give you a special connection to the Savior Lord Jesus. Only those who put their faith in Jesus and carry out the will of God would be honored to be called the family of Jesus (50).

Prayer: Father, thank you for showing us the sign of your love, power, and authority through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. I put my faith in you. Please help me to live to do your will.
One Word: Signs of Jesus