“A Sign”
As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked
generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of
Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so
also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The
Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation
and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to
Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be
hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who
come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes
are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are
unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light
within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and
no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its
light on you.”
When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat
with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was
surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
Then
the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and
dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did
not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is
inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
“Woe
to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue
and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of
God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats
in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people
walk over without knowing it.”
One
of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things,
you insult us also.”
Luke 11:29-45
Throughout
history, God provided plenty of “signs.” Those “signs” were to show people how
to live, but the people kept living their own way. When God finally sent His
Son Jesus, the religious leaders paid little attention to Him. They did not
listen to His warnings. Life had been good to them. They were recognized and
well respected. They resented being told they were wrong.
We
can be the same way. When life is going well, we tend to ignore the warnings
that we need to turn around and change our sinful ways. It’s important to remember
that we may be wrong even though life is good.
God sends warnings to protect us, not to punish us.
Our Daily Bread –