Matthew 12: 38-42
Jesus said that one greater than Jonah is here. Then Jesus said one greater than Solomon is here. Recall that soon before this, Jesus said that one greater than the temple is here. All three of these statements served an important purpose of revealing that Jesus is the Anointed One.
Now I often view Jonah as the disobedient prophet who ran from his duty, and then who later harbored anger and bitterness against the people of Nineveh.
Jonah may have had a better reputation with the Israelites 2,000 years ago. They may have seen Jonah more in a positive manner as the prophet who was rescued by God, and as the prophet who made an epic comeback.
Regarding King Solomon, he did such evil, as is stated in I Kings 11:6, that he was responsible for the split of Israel, as is stated in I Kings 11:11. That split resulted in the slow demise of Israel. Yet even today you hear more about Solomon’s splendor and less about his evil. The wise Solomon may have still been admired by a number of Israelites 2,000 years ago for his golden era rule in Israel.
The bottom line is I do not think Jesus was working to gain people’s respect and admiration based on a comparison with a famous prophet and a famous king. Rather the key point Jesus was making was the fact that He is the Christ. Christ is the Greek word for “Anointed One,” and Messiah is the Hebrew word for “Anointed One.” As I wrote in the piece “Greater than the temple,” priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with olive oil. The Anointed One would fulfill all three offices in a sacred manner, being the Eternal High Priest, the Prophet, and the King of kings.
Jesus is the Eternal High Priest, who is greater than the temple.
(See Hebrews 8:1-2)
Jesus is the Prophet, who is greater than Jonah the prophet.
(See Acts 3:22)
Jesus is the King of kings, who is greater than King Solomon.
(See Revelation 19:16)
Jesus is the Christ who came to save us from our sins!
(See Matthew 1:17 and 1:21)
Hunter Irvine
