God’s Total Offer —The Sign of Jonah (Matthew 16:1–12)

[Stephan Choe]

July 1 2026

Key Verse 4: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

In the past, there were special sales twice a year: after Christmas and in the summer. Today, however, there are special sales all the time. There are also total sales, where everything must be sold off; such sales take place when a store is closing down. Today, I would like to talk about a different kind of special offer.

Back then, there were two influential religious groups: the Sadducees and the Pharisees.

In this Bible passage, people from both groups come to Jesus because they want to see a miracle as proof of his status as the Messiah.

Jesus loves these people, too, and wants to help them. That is why he identifies their fundamental problem and explains the way of life to them.

We want to understand their problems now and find the right solution for them.

Furthermore, we want to reflect on the spiritual problem facing people in Germany and Europe and find the right solution.

1. The Pharisees' Demand for a Sign (1-4)

Jesus traveled from the eastern shore of the Sea of ​​Galilee to the western shore, to a place called Magadan (15:39; cf. Mark 8:10). There, Pharisees and Sadducees approached him to test him.

They recognized all the writings contained in what is now the Old Testament as the Word of God. They placed great emphasis on the sanctification of everyday life. To this end, they extended the laws concerning purity and dietary regulations—originally applicable only to the priestly service in the Temple—to the daily lives of the entire people. They justified this extension by arguing that God had given Moses not only the written Torah (i.e., the five books of Moses) but also an "Oral Torah" that possessed the same authority as the written Torah.

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) consists of the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.

Torah (Instruction/Law): the five books of Moses.

Nevi'im (Prophets): the early (up to the Kings) and later prophets (from Isaiah to Malachi).

Ketuvim (Writings): poetic books, wisdom literature, and other narratives.

Nevi'im (The Prophets)

This section is divided into the "early" and "later" prophets. It describes the history of the people of Israel in Canaan, the time of the kings, and the ministry of the prophets. [The Tanakh ends with the Second Book of Chronicles (the building of the Temple in Jerusalem), thus remaining open-ended historically and thematically.]

Ketuvim (Writings)

This is a diverse collection of poetic, wisdom, and historical texts:

The poetic books: Psalms, Proverbs of Solomon, Job.

The five Megillot (Scrolls): Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, Esther. Other writings: Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles.

The Sadducees, however, recognize only the written Torah—that is, the five books of Moses—as Scripture. They come from wealthy families and are open to Greek culture. They believe in neither the resurrection of the dead nor the existence of angels.

The Sadducees and Pharisees are actually sworn enemies—like oil and water. Yet, to our surprise, the two groups join forces against Jesus. They are likely familiar with the well-known strategy: "If you have two enemies, first ally yourself with one and defeat the second. Then defeat the enemy with whom you had allied yourself!"

How do the Pharisees and Sadducees put Jesus to the test? They demand a sign from heaven as proof that He is the Messiah.

Jesus answers: "When you see a fiery red sky in the evening, you say, 'Tomorrow will be a beautiful day, for the sky is fiery red.' But if the sky is a dull red in the morning, you say, 'There will surely be rain today.'

You can predict the weather by looking at the sky. Yet, despite the current spiritual situation, can you not foresee the coming divine judgment?" (2–3).

Finally, Jesus says, "An evil and unfaithful generation demands a sign; yet no sign shall be given to it, except the sign of Jonah" (4).

Jesus intends to give them only one sign: the sign of Jonah. Jonah preached repentance to the inhabitants of Nineveh to warn them of God's impending judgment. By this, Jesus means that He Himself is the true sign of Jonah.

Why does He describe Himself as the true sign of Jonah?

There are three reasons for this:

First: Because He preaches repentance.

Jonah preached repentance in Nineveh to warn the inhabitants of their destruction. And they repented, so God did not destroy Nineveh. Jesus, too, preaches repentance. He says, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel!" (Mark 1:15). Preaching about repentance or calling people to repent is uncomfortable for both the preacher and the listeners. Consequently, many preachers today do not speak of repentance but focus primarily on love for one's neighbor. Yet their sermons have little effect, as the listeners do not repent. Without repentance, the gospel can achieve little. Repentance is the first step toward rightly accepting the gospel. Those who do not repent will experience neither forgiveness nor the blessing of the gospel.

Is there really anyone who does not need forgiveness? All people carry a certain measure of guilt within them. Therefore, everyone is in need of forgiveness. This presupposes repentance. Whoever repents and accepts forgiveness becomes a child of God and receives His abundant blessing.

That is why God’s Word repeatedly calls us to repentance. In his Pentecost sermon, Peter says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Some hesitate to turn back to God because they fear He might condemn them as bad people. But that is not the case. Rather, God wipes away all our guilt and remembers it no more. God’s Word in Isaiah 1:18 says:

“Though your sins are like crimson, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like scarlet, they shall be like wool.”

Secondly: Because Jesus dies on the cross for our sins and rises again on the third day.

Jesus says in verse 4:

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

Jonah was a Jewish nationalist. Nineveh was the capital city of the Jews' enemies. God commanded Jonah to call Nineveh to repentance, to move the people to repent of their sins and to receive forgiveness. Yet Jonah would rather have died than preach repentance in Nineveh. At his own request, he was thrown into the sea. But a huge fish swallowed him, and he remained in the belly of the fish for three days. There, he repented of his disobedience. After three days, he was vomited onto dry land. He preached repentance in Nineveh. Consequently, all the inhabitants of Nineveh repented. God accepted their repentance and did not destroy the city.

Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, Jesus will remain in the grave for three days. Then, on the third day, He will rise from the dead. Jesus says to the Pharisees and Sadducees: "An evil and unfaithful generation demands a sign, yet no sign shall be given to it, except the sign of Jonah."

Jesus refuses to give them a sign. However, He offers them the sign of Jonah. By this sign, He means that He will die, remain in the grave, and rise from the dead on the third day. Thus, He proclaims the Gospel to them so that they may repent of their sins and receive forgiveness and God's blessing through faith in the Gospel. This good news applies not only to Pharisees and scribes but to all people in the world.

Whoever repents and believes in Jesus' sacrificial death and His resurrection receives forgiveness and eternal life. This is wonderful news for everyone.

There is no sin too great for Jesus to forgive. There is no person too wicked for Jesus to forgive. Everyone has a great opportunity to receive forgiveness and eternal life. For this, we need only repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We should not miss out on this divine blessing; we want to lay hold of this blessing and taste it.

2. Warning against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (5–12)  

Jesus and his disciples arrive at the eastern shore of the Sea of ​​Galilee. There, the disciples realize they have forgotten to bring bread along. Leaven (or yeast) is a substance used in making bread. Jesus’ disciples took the word "leaven" literally. Consequently, they felt guilty for having forgotten to bring bread. So they said to one another, "He is saying this because we didn't bring any bread."

There is a fitting proverb: "A guilty conscience needs no accuser."

Jesus’ disciples are so preoccupied with thoughts of bread that they cannot think of anything else.  

Jesus notices their anxiety and says to them, "You of little faith, why are you worrying because you didn't bring bread? Do you not yet understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets full you gathered then? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets full you gathered then? Why do you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? Rather, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" (8–11).

Jesus reminds them that, during the feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand, everyone was able to eat their fill. They must finally stop worrying about food; instead, they should grasp the spiritual significance of his words.  

Then Jesus says: "Rather, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

By "leaven," Jesus here refers to all the corrupting influences of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

In those days, the Jews equated the fermentation caused by leaven with corruption. Even a small amount of leaven can permeate the entire dough when mixed in.

By saying this, Jesus means that his disciples—and we, too—should guard against the corrupting influences of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  

What are the evil influences of the Pharisees and Sadducees? If we understand the character of the Pharisees and Sadducees, we can better recognize their evil influences.  

Let us first speak about the Pharisees.

These people believe that religion consists of observing purity regulations. Jesus says we should guard against their influence; we must not confuse the observance of religious rules with faith.

God does not judge people by their outward appearance, but by the depths of their hearts.

That is why Jesus summarized all the laws in this way, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:37–40).  

If we serve God or help others without heart and love, it does not please God. However, if we love God and people from the heart and act for their sake, God rejoices. We should always ask ourselves whether we have a heart for God and others and whether we act from the heart for their sake. When we do this, it pleases God, and He blesses us.  

Let us now speak about the Sadducees.

They are a group belonging to the priestly aristocracy; thus, they count among the wealthy Jewish upper class. High priests also belong to this party. They are politically active.  

When Jesus says to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Sadducees," he means that we must not confuse the Kingdom of God with material prosperity and political power.

In the past, some Christians viewed material wealth as a divine blessing upon their faith, given that the Christian West is more prosperous than most non-Christian countries. Unfortunately, material wealth is not definitive proof of God's blessing, for wealthy Germany is becoming increasingly godless these days.

Jesus expressed true blessing in these words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” etc. (Matt. 5:3, 8).

To see God and to possess the kingdom of heaven—that is the true blessing of God for God’s children. Of course, we should also contribute to the economic and political well-being of Germany and the world. Yet economic and political well-being is not our highest goal. Our highest goal is the kingdom of God. In other words: our highest goal is for God to reign as King in our hearts.    

Jesus’ All-Encompassing Offer  

From time to time, we see advertisements for an “all-encompassing offer.”

Jesus does, in fact, make us an “all-encompassing offer.”  

His first all-encompassing offer is this: He loves all people.

He loves even those who stubbornly persist in unbelief, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees; that is why He showed them the way to life. God also loves people like the inhabitants of Nineveh—whom Jonah found it difficult to love—and had the message of salvation proclaimed to them. Jesus loves all people. That is why God sent Jesus into the world.  

His second, comprehensive offer is this: He completely forgives our guilt and grants us His kingdom.

Jesus forgives our guilt entirely when we repent of our sins and believe the Gospel. He bestows upon us all His blessings and His kingdom in their fullness. In Jesus, we may receive eternal life, Sonship with God, and the kingdom of heaven. Truly, this is a comprehensive offer from God in Jesus. Praise be to God for His all-encompassing offer.

Amen!