Luke 11:29-30

Luke 11:29-30

[29] And  when the people  were gathered thick together,  he began  to say,  This  an evil  generation:  a sign;  and  no  sign  be given  it,  the sign  of Jonas  [30] For  as  Jonas  was  a sign  unto the Ninevites,  so  also  the Son  of man  generation. 

What is the context of Luke 11:29-30?

What does Luke 11:29-30 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Luke"s reference to the crowds increasing ties this verse in with the previous incident involving the criticism of His miracles ( Luke 11:14-26). Jonah himself was the sign of impending judgment to the Ninevites. His supernatural appearance and preaching triggered widespread repentance. Likewise the supernatural appearance and preaching of Jesus and the repentance that accompanied it signified impending judgment. The difference was that the positive response to Jonah"s ministry, by Gentiles no less, postponed God"s judgment. The negative response to Jesus" ministry did nothing to postpone God"s judgment on Israel. This judgment consisted of the postponement of the kingdom and the destruction of Jerusalem. The rejection of Jesus" preaching was even more serious because miracles accompanied it. The title "Son of Man" presents Jesus as superior to Jonah.
Luke did not mention Jesus" reference to Jonah"s three days and nights in the great fish, though that would be a sign that Jesus had come from God after the Resurrection (cf. Matthew 12:40).