Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In the passage cited in the question, Jesus was referring to the events described in 1 Kings 10:1-13 in the Old Testament.

When Solomon became king of Israel after the death of his father David, God had appeared to him in a dream and offered to give Solomon whatever he asked (1 Kings 3:5-14). Solomon did not ask God for wealth, or a long life, or for military victory over his enemies, but for wisdom, so that he might rule Israel properly and do what was right in God's sight.

This pleased God, so God told Solomon that He would not only give Solomon greater wisdom than anyone who had come before him or would come after him, but that He would also give him the things for which he had not asked.

Solomon subsequently displayed such great wisdom (in passages such as 1 Kings 3:16-28 and in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1) in the established canon of Scroipture, aside from any deuterocanonical writings) that reports of his wisdom spread throughout the region, including to the queen of Sheba (which scholars identify as the modern-day country of Yemen in the southern Arabian Peninsula).

She made the journey to Israel to meet Solomon, to speak with him, and to test him with difficult questions. Solomon answered or explained all the questions that she put to him, and the queen of Sheba told him that his wisdom and prosperity were even greater than the reports she had heard. 

As wise and majestic as Solomon was, Jesus (as the incarnate Son of God) was (and is) even wiser (in fact, omniscient) and worthy of greater honor. That is why He referred to Himself as "One who is greater than Solomon". However, the religious authorities of that time (as well as the majority of the nation of Israel) refused to recognize His wisdom, or His identity as the Messiah.

That was why Jesus told those authorities that, in the final judgment at the end of time, the queen of Sheba would arise and condemn them, because she had traveled a long distance to witness and honor Solomon's wisdom, but the religious authorities had failed to recognize and honor One who was greater than Solomon (that is, Jesus) when He was right in their midst.

December 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

The Queen of Sheba came to hear the "wisdom of Solomon" as Christ said of her: 

LU 11:31 "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, something greater than Solomon is here." pp Matthew 12:42.

The background for her visit is 1KI 3:28 "And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king [Solomon] had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment."

1CO 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Jesus Christ was saying that He is wisdom personified ("something greater than wise old Solomon is here!") -- Right here in your midst. 

This Queen of Sheba traveled 1,200 miles to hear Solomon's wisdom, and "you people," Jesus was saying, "have this wonderful wisdom standing right in front of you!" (the gist). And then, the gist of what He said, was "and you'll be judged because you are rejecting it/Me."

May 25 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report