The Sign of Jonah^(A)

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees told Jesus,^[a] “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

³⁹ But he replied to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah, ⁴⁰ because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights,^[b] so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today,^[c] because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look—something greater than Jonah is here! ⁴² The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today,^[d] because she came from so far away^[e] to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! Something greater than Solomon is here!”

¹² He sighed deeply in his spirit and remarked, “Why do those living today^[a] demand a sign? I tell all of you^[b] with certainty, no sign will be given to this generation.”