THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
An evil generation: Mt 12,38-45
Scribes were learned people and many were Pharisees as well. Thus addressing Jesus as Teacher may be ironical. This is the way unbelievers address Jesus in the Gospels.
The sign they are seeking would be looking for more than the miracles already done by Jesus. They want a clear sign on their own terms that Jesus truly comes from God. This was not a reasonable expectation. Is 7,11 is the great messianic prophecy which was given after the king refused to ask for a sign.
The generation is evil because they are resisting God's will just like their ancestors. Thus the generation is also adulterous. Marriage was a common image for the covenant between God and his people and its breakdown was seen adultery, with Israel going after false gods. The story of Hosea at the beginning of his prophecy is perhaps the most important example; there is also Jeremiah, Jer 3,6-10.
The story of Jonah doing all that prophets were not supposed to do is humorous. Perhaps we can think of Jesus making a joke here at the scribes' expense.
The first part of the book of Jonah is the story of how he ended up in the belly of a whale (or sea monster). Only Matthew makes the link with the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was in the tomb three days, counting part days as wholes, but only two nights. The point though can be made.
The main theme of the book of Jonah is the unexpected repentance of the pagan city Nineveh in chapter 3 followed by the ungrateful attitude of the prophet in chapter 4. At this point, the prophet could stand for the whole people of Israel who wanted salvation to be exclusive to them. Yet someone greater than Jonah is present in Jesus the prophet calling his people to repentance. That is the main sign of Jonah for the evangelists.
The Queen of Sheba came to visit King Solomon in 1 Kings 10 because of his fame for wisdom. She asked him "hard questions" (1 Kings 10,1). Someone greater than Solomon is now here, Jesus who is the wisdom of God.
We have seen a number of exorcisims in this Gospel. We noted that the earlier account of the healing in 12,22 was described as an exorcism, 9,33. The demons go through waterless regions, the traditional abode of demons.
Matthew has added the word "empty" to the clean house. The place is ready for new tenants who might possibly be the Holy Spirit. But then in verse 45 more unclean spirits move in.
Only Matthew then adds "thus it will be with this evil generation". That is, the generation who refused to acknowledge Jesus and so allow the demons to move back in.
This harks back not just to the evil generation of verse 39 but to the whole speech of Jesus from verse 35.
This sets the scene for the positive message which follows, the true family of Jesus. To this, Matthew now turns so we can return to the main page.
The Family of Jesus: Mt 12,46-50
The audience changes to the crowd (12,46) following the lengthy speech to the Pharisees. These verses can be read as an invitation to them to join Jesus' disciples, his true family.
These verses are a climax to this chapter providing a positive contrast to the preceeding controversies with the Pharisees. Another purpose of this scene is that it gives us a background for the parables discourse which follows in chapter 13. As we will see, Matthew returns to the same theme of the family of Jesus after the discourse, 13,53-58. Matthew has provided a family frame around the parables which gives us a context for reading them.
In all three Gospels, the family are outside (12,46). Physically maybe, but also symbolically. In light of Christian tradition, it is best to see Jesus' brothers as his extended family.
In Mark, Jesus just looks around and speaks about doing the will of God (Mk 3,35). In verse 49, we have a dramatic gesture as Jesus stretches his hand over his disciples
He then speaks of doing the will of his Father (12,50). It is a true disciple who does the will of the heavenly Father (as in the Lord's Prayer, 6,10) and so belongs to the true family of Jesus.
It is with that in mind that we are ready to read and listen to the parables.
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