SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:39
Y l respondi, y les dijo: La generacin mala y adltera demanda seal; mas seal no le ser dada, sino la seal de Jons profeta.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:39
Verse 39. An evil and adulterous generation] Or, race of people; for so genea should be translated here, and in most other places in the Gospels; for our Lord, in general, uses it to point out the Jewish people. This translation is a key to unlock some very obscure passages in the evangelists. Seeketh after a sign] Or, seeketh another sign, (epizhtei,) so I think this word should be translated. Our Lord had already given the Jews several signs; and here they desire sign upon sign.
Our Lord terms the Jews an adulterous race. Under the old covenant, the Jewish nation was represented as in a marriage contract with the Lord of hosts; as believers, in the new covenant, are represented as the spouse of Christ. All unfaithfulness and disobedience was considered as a breach of this marriage contract; hence the persons who were thus guilty are denominated adulterers and adulteresses. But, independently of this, there is the utmost proof, from their own writings, that in the time of our Lord they were most literally an adulterous race of people: for, at this very time, R. Jochanan ben Zacchai abrogated the trial by the bitter waters of jealousy, because so many were found to be thus criminal. See on John viii. 3.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 39. But he answered and said unto them , etc.] Not to the Pharisees, who were unworthy of an answer from him; having, in such an imperious manner, and with a sole view to tempt him, and after such miracles were wrought by him, required of him a sign from heaven; but to the multitude, the throng of people gathered thick together on this occasion, (see Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:29) he turns himself from the Scribes and Pharisees, to the common people, and says to them concerning the former, an evil and adulterous generation ; not only in a spiritual sense, being degenerated from the faith, religion, and piety of their ancestors; but literally, which appeared not only in their polygamy, and frequent divorces on trivial occasions, but by criminal conversation with other women; (see John 8:9) and this, with the Jews themselves, is a character of the generation in which the Messiah comes: for they say f757 , that just when the Messiah comes, or in the age the son of David comes, impudence shall be increased, corn and wine shall be dear, the government shall be heretics, twnzl hyhy d[ww tyb , and the synagogue shall become a brothel house.
Their meaning is, that the chief magistrates should be Sadducees, and those that pretended to religion and holiness would be adulterers, which was now the case. Their writings frequently speak of the increase and abounding of adulteries, under the second temple, and about this time; which obliged Jochanan ben Zaccai and the sanhedrim, to leave off the use of the bitter waters. Seeketh after a sign ; this is perfectly Talmudic language, the language of the Jews f759 . The disciples of R. Jose ben Kismai, asked him, when the Son of David came? He replied, I am afraid, lest twa ynmm wqbt , ye should seek of me a sign; they say unto him, we will not seek of thee a sign.
This the Jews sought of Christ, time after time; not content with one, sought another, though such wonderful ones were wrought, which most fully demonstrated him to be the Messiah; and therefore he would not indulge this temper in them; but declared, that there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas . Not that no miracles should afterwards be wrought amongst them; for, after this, many wondrous works were done by Christ; but no such signs should be given they desired, not one from heaven; but one particularly should be given them, out of the earth, and should be, not for their conviction, but condemnation; and would seem very much like that which was done to the prophet Jonas, or Jonah; for so is his name in the Hebrew language, the other being the Greek termination of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 38-45 - Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires an prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were grante to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham an Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called her the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, an then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave and then rise again. The Ninevites would shame the Jews for no repenting; the queen of Sheba, for not believing in Christ. And we have no such cares to hinder us, we come not to Christ upon suc uncertainties. This parable represents the case of the Jewish churc and nation. It is also applicable to all those who hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly converted. The unclea spirit leaves for a time, but when he returns, he finds Christ is no there to shut him out; the heart is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to comply with evil suggestions, and the ma becomes a more decided enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residenc of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost by faith in Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ αποκριθεις 611 5679 V-AOP-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM γενεα 1074 N-NSF πονηρα 4190 A-NSF και 2532 CONJ μοιχαλις 3428 N-NSF σημειον 4592 N-ASN επιζητει 1934 5719 V-PAI-3S και 2532 CONJ σημειον 4592 N-NSN ου 3756 PRT-N δοθησεται 1325 5701 V-FPI-3S αυτη 846 P-DSF ει 1487 COND μη 3361 PRT-N το 3588 T-ASN σημειον 4592 N-ASN ιωνα 2495 N-GSM του 3588 T-GSM προφητου 4396 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
39. Adulterous (moicaliv). A very strong and graphic expression, founded upon the familiary Hebrew representation of the relation of God's people to him under the figure of marriage. See Ps. lxxiii. 27; Isaiah lvii. 3 sqq.; lxii. 5; Ezek. xxiii. 27. Hence idolatry and intercourse with Gentiles were described as adultery; and so here, of moral unfaithfulness to God. Compare Jas. iv. 4; Apoc. ii. 20 sqq. Thus Dante:"Where Michael wrought Vengeance upon the proud adultery." Inf., vii., 12.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:39 {An evil and adulterous generation} (genea ponera kai moicalis). They had broken the marriage tie which bound them to Jehovah (Plummer). See #Ps 73:27; Isa 57:3ff.; 62:5; Eze 23:27; Jas 4:4; Re 2:20. What is "the sign of Jonah?"
