What does Luke 11:29-32 mean?

²⁹ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. ³⁰ For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. 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, a greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Luke 11:29-32 KJV)

The Sign of Jonah

Christ’s discourse in these verses shows two things:

I. What is the sign we may expect from God for the confirmation of our faith. The great and most convincing proof of Christ’s being sent by God, and which they were yet to wait for after the many signs already given, was the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

1. He reproves the people for demanding other signs than those already provided in abundance. The people gathered in large numbers (Luke 11:29), not so much to have their consciences instructed by Christ’s teaching as to satisfy their curiosity with his miracles. Christ knew what attracted the crowd—they came seeking a sign, something to observe and talk about. It is an evil generation that refuses to be awakened or convinced, even by the clearest demonstrations of divine power and goodness.
2. He promises them one more sign, different from the rest—the sign of Jonah the prophet, which is explained in Matthew as Christ’s resurrection. Just as Jonah, after being cast into the sea and lying there three days, returned alive and preached repentance to Nineveh, so will Christ, after his death and resurrection, have his gospel preached to the Gentiles. This will serve as the Jewish nation’s final warning. If it stirs them to repentance, good; but if not, they should expect utter destruction. “The Son of Man will be a sign to this generation” (Luke 11:30)—a sign speaking to them, even if rejected by them.
3. He warns them to respond rightly to this sign, because their response will determine their fate.

The queen of Sheba will rise in judgment and condemn their unbelief (Luke 11:31). Though she was a foreigner, she eagerly believed the reports of Solomon’s wisdom and traveled a great distance to hear him—not just to satisfy curiosity, but to gain understanding, especially of the true God. That’s recorded to her honor. “A greater than Solomon is here,” meaning one with more wisdom and more heavenly doctrine than Solomon ever conveyed—yet the Jews showed no regard for what Christ said, though he was in their midst.

The men of Nineveh will rise in judgment and condemn their lack of repentance (Luke 11:32). They repented at Jonah’s preaching, which was far inferior in power and clarity to Christ’s. His warnings were more serious than Jonah’s, yet they remained unmoved.

II. What is the sign that God expects from us as evidence of our faith: a sincere practice of the religion we profess, and a readiness to accept divine truth when clearly presented.

1. They had the light with every possible advantage. God, having lit the candle of the gospel, did not hide it (Luke 11:33). Christ didn’t preach in secret. The apostles were commanded to preach to everyone. Both Christ and his ministers proclaimed the gospel publicly. It is a great privilege that the gospel is so visible, offering guidance and showing the sure path to eternal happiness.
2. Having the light, their responsibility was to make use of it. No matter how bright the light is, it does no good if the eyes cannot see it. “The light of the body is the eye” (Luke 11:34). Likewise, the soul’s light is its understanding—its ability to discern good from evil, truth from lies. Our benefit from divine revelation depends on how well we see spiritually. It is either a fragrance of life or of death.