In Our Generation

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Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, my hope is in You, my God, my help, and my strength.

Read Matthew 12:38-50

^[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.”

Meditate

“What is the point Jesus is making here? Reformation needs to be long-lasting to be genuine” (N.T. Wright). It is easy to start strongly, but more difficult to finish well!

Think Further

Instead of creeping away in disgrace to examine their own lives and ask, “Could we possibly be in league with Satan?” the Pharisees blindly pursue their preconceived plan of attack. There is no repentance. Indeed, they perfectly illustrate Jesus’ point, that attributing the work of God’s Spirit to Satan is the unforgivable sin. They are supreme examples of the “wicked and adulterous generation,” which “asks for a sign” (39). The rabbis thought that signs from God should be abnormal physical actions such as water flowing backwards. Jesus’ earthly signs include actions like feeding the 5,000 (Matt. 14:13-21)–and they are all in answer to human need. Jesus is not a circus performer. The evidence of his signs is incontrovertible, but unlike the Ninevites or the Queen of Sheba “this generation” (41,42,45) does not respond.

Jesus’ condemnation extends beyond the Pharisees, to all his hearers. The signs are for all to see. It is impossible to remain neutral about him. If people do not allow his Spirit to reside in their “house,” then evil will take up occupancy (43-45). Having rejected Jesus, this generation is in a worse situation. Note, however, that there are some who respond to him. Note, too, that Jesus is not so much rejecting his own earthly family here as extending it to all who do the will of the Father.

Do you wish you had known him on earth? Jesus says that whoever does his will is his brother or sister. We belong to the inner circle of the beloved. What a privilege! God, by his Spirit, has called us out of what seems today to be “a wicked and adulterous generation” to heed his words, to value their wisdom and to radically change our ways and do the will of our Father.

Apply

Is God speaking to you about something you do not want to hear? Are you doing the Father’s will? Should you repent? Confess to him and receive his forgiveness.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I am following You as my Lord and Savior but I acknowledge it is sometimes fits and starts. Keep me moving forward in the lifelong adventure of being Your disciple.

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