38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

 42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

 43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

The Pharisees demanded to see a sign from Jesus to prove he was who he claimed to be.  Well Jesus told them the only sign they will receive was the sign of Jonah.  Jonah was sent to the city of Nineveh to warn them to repent.  Nineveh had become so evil that God was ready to render judgment on that city but after hearing the message of Jonah they did repent and God spared them.  This is the only sign that the Pharisees would receive Jesus warning them to repent and this is the only sign the present generation will receive.  A message sent from God by his servants to repent or receive judgment.  Jesus goes on to warn the fate of those who have become clean and then allows evil back into their lives.  Their end state is worse than it was to begin with.  They have received the message of God and than turned their backs on God.

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