While the queen of Sheba came from far to hear the human wisdom of a foreign king, the Jews rejected the divine wisdom offered to them in their own land by the promised King. She had only heard of Solomon, but accepted what she had heard even before having seen anything, while Jesus showed himself in Israel more gloriously than Solomon, and yet Israel did not believe. Matthew 12:41–42 puts the Gentiles, who believed with less grace, above Israel. Soon the Gentiles too will come to faith (Matthew 8:10–12).
Jesus is not merely granted wisdom, like Solomon; he is God’s wisdom himself (Matthew 11:25–28), present among them. Gentiles from afar saw more in the shadows of Christ than the Pharisees, who are in Christ’s presence, recognized in his works. While the Ninevites and the queen of the South acknowledged God’s work, the Jewish leaders sought to undo it by killing Jesus. Such an evil and adulterous generation deserves no more than the sign of Jonah.
The sharp contrast between the generation of Jews in the time of Jesus and the queen of Sheba is clear. While she made a long journey in order to listen to the limited wisdom of a foreign king, the Jews remained indifferent to the divine wisdom offered to them in their own land by the promised King. Therefore, on the day of judgment the queen of the South will condemn this generation.1
The queen of Sheba had only heard of Solomon, and yet she accepted what she had heard even without first having seen anything, undertaking the long journey. Jesus, however, revealed himself in Israel far more gloriously than his type Solomon, and yet Israel did not believe. Matthew 12:41–42 places the Gentiles, who believed with less grace, above Israel. Soon the Gentiles too will come to faith (Matthew 8:10–12); for now it is only Israel who will receive this heavier judgment.2
Jesus underscores the idea that Gentiles will serve as an example of faith for Israel when he also refers to the queen of the South (Matthew 12:42) in addition to the men of Nineveh (Matthew 12:41). She too will condemn this generation in the judgment. She came from a great distance— from the ends of the earth—to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But Jesus is not merely granted wisdom; he is God’s wisdom himself (Matthew 11:25–28), and he is here present among them. This generation does not need to travel to the ends of the earth, for God’s wisdom has come to Israel. Gentiles from afar recognized more in the shadows of Christ than the Pharisees who are in Christ’s presence recognized in his physical manifestations. Not only the Ninevites but even the queen of the South acknowledged God’s work, while the Pharisees and teachers of the law sought to undo it by killing Jesus. Such an evil and adulterous generation is therefore bound to the sign of Jonah and deserves no more.3
42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.