Matthew 12:36-40

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

36 I tell you, s on the day of judgment t people will give account for u every careless word they speak, 37 for v by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, w we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, x "An evil and y adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For z just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, a so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:4
    Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
    Ephesians 5:11
    Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
    2 Peter 1:8
    For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 12:14
    For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
    Romans 14:12
    So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
    1 Peter 4:5
    But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 17:31
    Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 5:22
    But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
    James 3:2 - 12
    For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 16:1
    And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to te...
    Mark 8:11 - 12
    The Pharisees came and began to argue with him,...
    Luke 11:16
    While others, to test him, kept seeking from hi...
    Luke 23:8
    When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he ...
    John 2:18
    So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show...
    John 4:48
    So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and...
    John 6:30
    So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do,...
    1 Corinthians 1:22
    For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 16:4
    An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
    Matthew 12:39 - 42
    But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
    Luke 11:29 - 32
    When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
    Mark 8:11 - 12
    The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 57:3
    But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
    Mark 8:38
    For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
    James 4:4
    You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
  8. Cross References
    Matthew 12:39 - 42
    But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
    Luke 11:29 - 32
    When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
  9. Cross References
    Jonah 1:17
    And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 17:22 - 23
    As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.