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The Demand for a Sign was an episode in the Ministry of Jesus, according to the Gospels of Mark (8:11–13), Matthew (12:38-42), and Luke (11:29-32).

Overview

In Mark Jesus strongly rejects the demand for a sign from heaven. In Matthew and Luke (i.e. Q) also, the demanded sign comes from earth, not from heaven; the repentance of the Gentiles is evidence of the authority of the Son of Man, who is greater than Jonah and Solomon. Jesus compared himself to the prophet Jonah (who only reluctantly preached to the Gentiles, see Book of Jonah), and Solomon (who received the visit of the Queen of Sheba, see 1 Kings 10:1-13, and 2 Chronicles 9:1-12). Matthew adds a secondary (post-Easter) meaning to the sign of Jonah with an explicit reference to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Demand for a Sign in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 8:11–13 (NRSV) -- [11] The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. [12] And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." [13] And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 12:38-42 (NRSV) -- [38] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." [39] But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. [41] The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! [42] The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!"

Gospel of Luke

Luke 11:29-32 (NRSV) -- [29] When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. [30] For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. [31] The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! [32] The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!"

Cf. Gospel of Barnabas

[20b] <Following Calming of the Storm (20a)> Having arrived at the city of Nazareth the seamen spread through the city all that Jesus had wrought, whereupon the house where Jesus was, was surrounded by as many as dwelt in the city. And the scribes and doctors having presented themselves unto him, said: 'We have heard how much thou hast wrought in the sea and Judea: give us therefore some sign here in thine own country.' Jesus answered: 'This faithless generation seek a sign, but it shall not be given them, because no prophet is received in his own country. In the time of Elijah there were many widows in Judea but he was not sent to be nourished save unto a widow of Sidon. Many were the lepers in the time of Elisha in Judea, nevertheless only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.' Then were the citizens enraged and seized him and carried him on to the top of a precipice to cast him down. But Jesus walking through the midst of them, departed from them.

The Demand for a Sign in Scholarship

The Demand for a Sign in Fiction

External links

• [ Wikipedia]