Morally Rich, Spiritually Bankrupt (Matt 12:38-45)
Can a person be morally rich yet spiritually bankrupt? Definitely! In this passage, we are reminded again, through the examples of certain Scribes and Pharisees, to watch our hearts and focus on what’s truly important.
An evil question
This passage begins with some Scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus for signs (v38), which He had already been performing since the beginning of the book of Matthew (e.g., healing the sick in Chapter 9). In a parallel passage in Mark 8, the Pharisees were being described as “tempting” Jesus with their requests. This made their questioning evil as they probably thought Jesus wasn’t able to perform signs, allowing them to humiliate Christ. Furthermore, though they called Him “Master”, it was only a hypocritical address of respect.
An honest reply
Jesus didn’t entertain them with the sign that they sought for, but instead pointed out their problem of evil. However, He promised Israel with a sign - His eventual resurrection 3 days after His death (v40) - as typified by the experience of the prophet Jonah, where he was in the belly of a big fish for 3 days (Jonah 1:17).
A shocking contrast
Following which, Jesus contrasted the attitude and response of the Scribes and Pharisees to 2 groups of people:
1) The men of Nineveh (v41) - These disobedient and pagan people feared and repented when Jonah delivered God’s message of warnings. (Jonah 1:17).
2) The queen of the south (v42) - This pagan Gentile sought Godly wisdom through king Solomon, cherished it, and glorified the source - God Himself. (1 Kings 10:1-9).
These 2 groups of Gentiles will rise up in the future to judge Israel because though they were disadvantaged in many areas (e.g., they were neither Jews nor under God’s covenants), yet, they valued God’s wisdom and message and responded positively. This is in stark contrast to Israel: they had all the advantages as God’s covenant people and interacted directly with the Son of God (compared to Jonah or Solomon); yet, they despised God’s messenger (Christ) and message (about His Kingdom). As a result of this rejection, Israel was much more guilty than the 2 abovementioned pagan groups.
A simple picture
Jesus used a parable of a man and unclean spirits (v43 to 45) to describe the state of the Scribes and Pharisees:
1) “last state of that man is worse than the first” (v45). The Scribes and Pharisees were blessed with much exposure to the gospel but they stubbornly rejected it. As a result, they would be much more hardened than before Jesus came with the Kingdom gospel.
2) “empty, swept, and garnished” (v44). The Scribes and the Pharisees were religious, pious, and moral (hence, morally rich), but, their hearts were not spiritually cleansed. They were empty in the spirit and used works to justify their righteousness (spiritually bankrupt). They would have a greater sense of false security than one who realised his great immorality.
A divine verdict
Jesus pronounced a verdict on Israel for rejecting the Son of God and God’s gospel message by labelling Israel as an “evil and adulterous generation” (v39) and a “wicked generation” (v45). Israel had been adulterous because the hearts of the people were not with God, they worshiped their own standards of morality. The descriptions of them are very similar to those found in Jeremiah 3, where God compared the disobedient Israel to an adulteress wife as Israel sought out physical idols. Though the objects of worship had changed, the verdict on the Scribes and Pharisees reveals that men are still inherently sinful and their hearts have not changed.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall…
After reading the passage, it is timely for believers to pause and ask ourselves these questions after having been exposed to Jesus and His providence:
1) Do I rely on legalistic religion or faith in Jesus?
2) Do I rely on my own strength to be moral or surrender to Jesus for His cleansing power?
3) Do I remember His blessings and providence and be grateful, or am I a discontented and ungrateful?
The King reminds us in John 15:3-5 that He is the vine, and we are the branches. Without Him, we can do nothing. Therefore, let us stay close to His Word, seek His rest, and be spiritually rich in Him! If you are an unbeliever and finding spiritually empty, you can also experience richness by filling your spiritual vacuum with Jesus.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:3-5)
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