Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40, in plain English

Jesus explains: just as Jonah spent three days and three nights inside a great fish, the Son of Man will spend three days and three nights in the earth. He is pointing to His own death and resurrection.

Why it's here

This is Jesus' way of telling them: the ultimate sign is coming, and it will be unmistakable. His resurrection will be the proof that silences all doubt.

Who's speaking

Jesus explains the meaning of the sign.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus gives a preview of the most important event in human history. Like Jonah emerging from the belly of the fish, Jesus will emerge from the grave. That is the only sign this generation needs.

The scholarly reading

Jesus explains the Jonah sign: just as Jonah was three days and nights in the 'belly of the great fish' (koilia tou ketous), so the Son of Man will be three days and nights 'in the heart of the earth' (en te kardia tes ges).

Language and setting

This is the clearest pre-Passion prediction in Matthew to this point. The parallel between Jonah's submarine entombment and Jesus' burial establishes a typological connection between the prophet's rescue and Jesus' resurrection.

Voice

Jesus interprets the sign of Jonah.

Significance

Jesus reveals the meaning of the Jonah sign: His coming burial and resurrection will parallel Jonah's three-day entombment in the fish, providing the definitive proof of His identity.

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

42The 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 hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Read all of Matthew 12 — Grain fields on a Saturday spark a furious confrontation. Jesus claims an authority that makes the Pharisees begin plotting his death.