February 3. Matthew 12

How Far Will You Travel for Truth? The Queen of the South will Rise

How much effort do you make to sit at the feet of Jesus’?

Please read Matt 12:38-42

Now 12 chapters into the gospel of Matthew how many miracles has Jesus done up to this point?

Yet in Matthew 12:38 the Pharisees and the teachers of the law approach him unsatisfied will all those miracles and ask for another sign.

In Jesus swift rebuke he mentions two important Old Testament figures. One more well known Jonah and the another not as well known, the Queen of the South. The mentioning of Jonah is a study all on its own but let’s look into the Queen of the South. What makes her so special? Why does Jesus hold her up in such high regard?

Jesus tells them that she will rise on the day of judgment and condemn them. why?

For a better appreciation of her, you can read 1 Kings chapter 10.

From 1 Kings 10 we can gather that this is a woman of great power and wealth. Yet despite all of this she longs for a deeper understanding of truth which compels her to make a long trek to see King Solomon. The exact location of where she is from is debatable but the important thing is she traveled herself and did not send others. All this in her pursuit of Solomons wisdom (Matt 12:42). The desire of her heart was for truth and she would stop at nothing to look for it. Yet “now something greater than Solomon is here.” That “something” is Jesus. And yet the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law are missing the point and not pursuing his wisdom. They are only interested in another miracle.

When it comes to pursuing Jesus’ wisdom how much effort have you made this year?

Are you worshiping the blessing instead of the one that gives you the blessing?

Are you more interested in the miracle than in growing closer to Jesus?

How are your quiet times?