The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 535

Obrist In his burial. Jonah spoke of his position in the belly of the fish as that of one buried in the grave. He oalls it "the belly of hell,n Bheol, or the grave; and "the pit" (see Jonah ii. 2, 6, margin). The type was all the more remarkable in the mira- oulous preservation of hie life. For the Holy One must not see corruption. He cannot beholden of death. (2)_ Jonah was a type of Christ in his resurrection. (a) As to the fact. (b) As to the time (vide Exposition; see also Hos. vi. 2). (3) Jonah preached to the Ninevites after his return from his burial in the sea-monster. The true preaching of the gospel followed upon the resurrection of Jeans. (4) The miracle in the oase of Jonah was a sign that he was a divinely commissioned prophet; and it authenticated his words to the Ninevites. So is the resurrection of J eaus the authen- tication of his mission and words (see Luke xi. 30). Those who will not accept this sign are in no condition to accept any sign, though it should be even "from heaven." (5) In God's order the sign of the Prophet Jonah must anticipate the sign of the Prophet Daniel. Messiah must first come in humiliation, in suffering and death and burial, before he can come in power and great glory. IL THAT THE SINNERS ABE ADMONIBHED OF JUDGMENT. 1. The men of Nineveh will =front them there. (1) The Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah. They credited the sign. Their faith saved them from vengeance. Note: God's threatenings, as well as his promises, are conditional. No one goes to perdition by arbitrary predestination. (2) How will the scribes and Pharisees appear in the judg- ment when confronted with the men of Nineveh? They repented not at the preaching of Jesus, who came to them authenticated by miracles and prophecies innumerable. (3) Jesus is a "greater than Jonah.n The Ninevites repented at the preaching of the lesser prophet. The scribes and Pharisees resisted the preaching of the greater. Note: Responsibilities are heavier as privileges and opportunities are greater. 2. The queen of the south will confront them there. (I) She came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon was but a type of Jeaus. He is Wisdom itself-the Eternal Word of God. The Wisdom of God himself" came to his own" privileged people, " but they received him not." (2) She came "from the uttermost parts of the earth." She came up out of a dark heathen land, far a.way from the light of the oracles of God. How strongly did her case contrast with the.t of the very doctors of the Law, who, in the .. Valley of Vision," were visited by the God of glory I (3) Gee.tile believers in general will come into jndgment with the Jewish rejecters of the gospel. So will those who amongst the Gentiles improved inferior light rise up to confound those who have neglected ;or abused the superior. The rising up alludes to the custom of witnesses rising from their seats and standing in court to give their testimony. (4) Opportunity and privilege will have their value in the judgment in determining the measure of the rewards e.nd punishments. ill, THAT THE SINNEBS ARE WARNED OF DOOM, 1. The stmten~ is the sequel of the trial. (1) The certainty of the trial cannot be disputed. It is certified in the sign of the resurrection of Obrist. This is the very gist of the reference to the sign of the Prophet Jonah. In this sense also Paul cites the sign: "He bath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he he.th ordained ; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (A.cts xvii. 31). (2) Not only is the resurrection of Christ given for a sign of the judgment; it is, moreover, given to evince the certainty of the particular doctrine, viz. that men shall be then judged by their words, and by them justified or condemned. Let this great truth influence all our conversation. (3) As certainly as there will be a judgment, eo certainly will the destiny of the judged h€ determined. The judgment will be no mere parade. The doom of the wicked J.e portrayed in the parable of the unclean spirit, 2. OommunitilllJ are punished in thia 'IDO'l'ld, {l) This is obvious from the nature of the case. They belong exclusively to it, e.nd exist in it. So the parable sets forth the doom of the "generation " or race of unbelieving Jews. (2) Their "first" state was melancholy, viz. when they were visited by the gospel, It is described under the similitude of e. demoniao. 'l'he pre• valence of demoniacal possession at that time was a consequence, e.nd therefore fittingly e. figure, of the wickedness of the nation. (8) They had a sea~n of me~ful visitation in the preaching of John and of Jesus. There was a partial reformat1?n through the preaching of John, Jesus, in consequence, appeared, e.nd expelled devil,  582 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, [os. xu. 1-IJO.