Luke 11:31-32
On the Judgment Day, we will be judged by Jesus Christ as told by
Jesus Himself - Jn 12:48 "The one who rejects me and does not receive
my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on
the last day." We will be judged by Jesus Christ as taught by the
apostle Paul - Ac 17:30-31 "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but
now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed
a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom
he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising
him from the dead."'; 2 Co 5:10 "For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for
what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."; 2 Ti 4:1 "I
charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge
the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:"
But Jesus also spoke of others judging on that Day.... The Queen of
the South - Lk 11:31 "The queen of the South will rise up at the
judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she
came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and
behold, something greater than Solomon is here." The men of Nineveh -
Lk 11:32 "The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of
Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here." In what way
will they judge the generation of Jesus' day? Might they also judge us
on that day? Let's take a closer look...
Taking a closer look at the Queen of the South we need some historical
background. The Queen of the South was also known as the Queen of
Sheba - 1 Kin 10:1 "Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of
Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with
hard questions." Sheba was likely a city of Arabia (possibly Yemen),
located south of Judea, at least twelve hundred miles (Hendriksen).
She came to see Solomon with a great retinue and much wealth, but was
amazed by Solomon's wisdom and wealth. She praised Solomon and gave
him great gifts. Solomon gave gifts to her in return - 1 Kin 10:2-13.
Why will she condemn the Jews Jesus was speaking to? She traveled a
great distance to hear truth; they had the truth at hand - Lk 11:31b
"and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." She traveled to
hear Solomon; they had access to One far wiser, better and greater. By
past example and future testimony she will condemn those who rejected
Jesus! Will she condemn us if we reject such easy access to the Word
of God today? Will she condemn us if we allow such things as time and
distance to keep us from learning the truth, attending services, going
to gospel meetings, etc.? Might others condemn us? There are
Christians today whose example might put us to shame. There are
Christians today who must use public transportation, travel great
distances, often with feeble health, to attend services of the church,
or to hear the gospel preached. Might they not rise with the Queen of
the South to condemn us on the Judgment Day, if we make excuses for
not making the effort to learn the truth and serve the Lord? There are
even non-Christians whose example could shame us; those who make great
sacrifices for their political or religious views. Do they serve their
ideologies with greater fervor than we do our Lord?
Now let's take a closer look at the men of Nineveh with some
historical background. Jonah was sent to preach to the Ninevites - Jon
1:1-2 "Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai,
saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against
it, for their evil has come up before me."'; 3:1-4 "Then the word of
the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh,
that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.
Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in
breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And
he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"'
Nineveh was the capital of ancient Assyria, a large city. Jonah's
message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" The men of
Nineveh responded favorably - Jon 3:5-10. The people believed,
proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth. The king likewise, calling
for national fasting and prayer for forgiveness. God relented from the
disaster He said that He would bring upon them.
Why will they condemn us? The Ninevites heeded: a minor prophet - Lk
11:32, a sinful, foolish, and bigoted prophet, a message of damnation
and doom, and a sermon without signs and wonder to confirm it. The
Israelites rejected: the Son of God - Lk 11:32, a sinless, wise and
compassionate Messiah, a message of grace and redemption, and many
sermons with signs and wonders to confirm them as being from God. By
past example and future testimony they will condemn those who rejected
Jesus!
Will they condemn us if we reject the words of Jesus Christ today?
Will they condemn us if we refuse to repent and respond to the gospel
of Jesus Christ, despite the many opportunities that have been given
to us? Might others condemn us? There are Christians today whose
example might put us to shame There are Christians today who respond
in faith and repentance as soon as they understand God's Word? Might
they not rise with the men of Nineveh to condemn us on the Judgment
Day, if we make excuses for not obeying the truth though we've heard
it many times? There are even non-Christians whose example could shame
us who quickly respond in obedience, even though it may be to
religious error? Do they serve their false religions with greater
fervor than we do our Lord?
With whom shall we stand on the Judgment Day...? Will it be with those
like the Queen of the South and the men of Nineveh? Or with those like
the Israelites who rejected the Savior sent to them? The answer
depends on how we make use of the opportunities given us... Whether we
will make the effort to learn the truth. Whether we will make the
effort to heed the truth. Even more than the Israelites of Jesus' day,
we have been given a great opportunity to know, learn and obey His
message of grace and salvation. Reject it, and we can expect to be
condemned, not only by Jesus, but by all who received His message in
faith and obedience...!
On the Judgment Day, we will be judged by Jesus Christ as told by
Jesus Himself - Jn 12:48 "The one who rejects me and does not receive
my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on
the last day." We will be judged by Jesus Christ as taught by the
apostle Paul - Ac 17:30-31 "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but
now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed
a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom
he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising
him from the dead."'; 2 Co 5:10 "For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for
what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."; 2 Ti 4:1 "I
charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge
the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:"
But Jesus also spoke of others judging on that Day.... The Queen of
the South - Lk 11:31 "The queen of the South will rise up at the
judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she
came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and
behold, something greater than Solomon is here." The men of Nineveh -
Lk 11:32 "The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of
Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here." In what way
will they judge the generation of Jesus' day? Might they also judge us
on that day? Let's take a closer look...
Taking a closer look at the Queen of the South we need some historical
background. The Queen of the South was also known as the Queen of
Sheba - 1 Kin 10:1 "Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of
Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with
hard questions." Sheba was likely a city of Arabia (possibly Yemen),
located south of Judea, at least twelve hundred miles (Hendriksen).
She came to see Solomon with a great retinue and much wealth, but was
amazed by Solomon's wisdom and wealth. She praised Solomon and gave
him great gifts. Solomon gave gifts to her in return - 1 Kin 10:2-13.
Why will she condemn the Jews Jesus was speaking to? She traveled a
great distance to hear truth; they had the truth at hand - Lk 11:31b
"and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." She traveled to
hear Solomon; they had access to One far wiser, better and greater. By
past example and future testimony she will condemn those who rejected
Jesus! Will she condemn us if we reject such easy access to the Word
of God today? Will she condemn us if we allow such things as time and
distance to keep us from learning the truth, attending services, going
to gospel meetings, etc.? Might others condemn us? There are
Christians today whose example might put us to shame. There are
Christians today who must use public transportation, travel great
distances, often with feeble health, to attend services of the church,
or to hear the gospel preached. Might they not rise with the Queen of
the South to condemn us on the Judgment Day, if we make excuses for
not making the effort to learn the truth and serve the Lord? There are
even non-Christians whose example could shame us; those who make great
sacrifices for their political or religious views. Do they serve their
ideologies with greater fervor than we do our Lord?
Now let's take a closer look at the men of Nineveh with some
historical background. Jonah was sent to preach to the Ninevites - Jon
1:1-2 "Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai,
saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against
it, for their evil has come up before me."'; 3:1-4 "Then the word of
the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh,
that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.
Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in
breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And
he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"'
Nineveh was the capital of ancient Assyria, a large city. Jonah's
message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" The men of
Nineveh responded favorably - Jon 3:5-10. The people believed,
proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth. The king likewise, calling
for national fasting and prayer for forgiveness. God relented from the
disaster He said that He would bring upon them.
Why will they condemn us? The Ninevites heeded: a minor prophet - Lk
11:32, a sinful, foolish, and bigoted prophet, a message of damnation
and doom, and a sermon without signs and wonder to confirm it. The
Israelites rejected: the Son of God - Lk 11:32, a sinless, wise and
compassionate Messiah, a message of grace and redemption, and many
sermons with signs and wonders to confirm them as being from God. By
past example and future testimony they will condemn those who rejected
Jesus!
Will they condemn us if we reject the words of Jesus Christ today?
Will they condemn us if we refuse to repent and respond to the gospel
of Jesus Christ, despite the many opportunities that have been given
to us? Might others condemn us? There are Christians today whose
example might put us to shame There are Christians today who respond
in faith and repentance as soon as they understand God's Word? Might
they not rise with the men of Nineveh to condemn us on the Judgment
Day, if we make excuses for not obeying the truth though we've heard
it many times? There are even non-Christians whose example could shame
us who quickly respond in obedience, even though it may be to
religious error? Do they serve their false religions with greater
fervor than we do our Lord?
With whom shall we stand on the Judgment Day...? Will it be with those
like the Queen of the South and the men of Nineveh? Or with those like
the Israelites who rejected the Savior sent to them? The answer
depends on how we make use of the opportunities given us... Whether we
will make the effort to learn the truth. Whether we will make the
effort to heed the truth. Even more than the Israelites of Jesus' day,
we have been given a great opportunity to know, learn and obey His
message of grace and salvation. Reject it, and we can expect to be
condemned, not only by Jesus, but by all who received His message in
faith and obedience...!
