ACC ~ Luke 11 v29 - 32

THE SIGN OF JONAH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He will not grant you another sign, so that he may give holy things to dogs or throw pearls before swine. …

He said only the sign of Jonah will be given to them. This means the passion on the cross and the resurrection from the dead. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 82. [1]

[1] CGSL 335**.

A SIGN FOR THE FALL AND RISING OF MANY IN ISRAEL

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The sign of Jonah served the Ninevites in two ways. If they would have rejected it, they would have gone down to Sheol alive like Jonah, but they were raised from the dead like him because they repented. Just as in the case of our Lord, who was set for the fall and the rising of many, [1] people either lived through his being killed or died through his death. … They were asking him for a sign from heaven [2] like thunder. … Jonah, after he went up from within the fish, was a negative sign to the Ninevites, because he proclaimed the destruction of their city. The disciples were also this way after the resurrection of our Lord. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 11.2. [3]

[1] Lk 2:34.

[2] Mk 8:11.

[3] ECTD 175-76*.

THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH IS A TYPE OF THE CHURCH

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The Queen of the South will condemn it [1] because she is a type of the church. Just as she came to Solomon, so too the church came to our Lord, and just as she condemned this generation, so also will the church. If she, who wished to see wisdom that passes away and a king who was mortal, was judging the synagogue, how much more the church, which desires to see a king who does not pass away and wisdom which does not go astray, will judge? If we suffer with him, we will also be glorified with him. [2] COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 11.4. [3]

[1] Mt 12:42.

[2] Rom 8:17.

[3] ECTD 176*.

THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH

AMBROSE: The mystery of the church is clearly expressed. Her flocks stretch from the boundaries of the whole world. They stretch to Nineveh through penitence [1] and to the Queen of the South through zeal to obtain wisdom. Thus it may know the words of the peaceable Solomon. [2] The queen’s kingdom is undivided and rises from diverse and distant peoples to one body. That great sacrament is concerning Christ and the church, [3] but this is nevertheless greater because of what prefigured it. The mystery is now fulfilled in truth. There was the image of Solomon, but here is Christ in his own body. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.96. [4]

[1] Jonah 3:5.

[2] See 1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chron 9:1.

[3] Eph 5:32.

[4] EHG 271**.