Bible Study · Gospel Parallels 201
Why demanding a sign from God is the wrong approach, and why He still works with everyone
Hello, my dear friend. The topic of today is “Jesus, I dare You.” Interesting, don’t you think? Several sections of the Bible talk about this (Mark 8:11-12 and Luke 11:29-32), but we are going to use only one, from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 12:38-41:
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus. They said, Teacher, we want to see you do a miracle as a sign from God. Jesus answered, Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle as a sign. But no miracle will be done to prove anything to them. The only sign will be the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah. Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. On the judgment day, you people who live now will be compared with the people from Nineveh, and they will be witnesses who show how guilty you are. Why do I say this? Because when Jonah preached to those people, they changed their lives. And you are listening to someone greater than Jonah, but you refuse to change.”
But you refuse to change. That’s powerful, my friend.
Last week, we talked about what truly opinionated people want. Today, you will learn that God actually works with everyone, even those who don’t have the right approach to Him.
“We want”
This is what they said: “We want. Show us something, Jesus.”
“That is the classic selfish approach of people: show me that, do this for me.”
“It’s really disrespectful when you think about it.”
What were they asking? Perform a miracle. Do something. To what? To entertain you? Oh, sure. No. That is not what the Lord is going to do for anybody. People think they can demand that from the Lord God.
The sign of Jonah
The Lord Jesus was clear. What you are going to see is the sign of Jonah. That’s interesting, you know, because in this context of the sign of Jonah:
“What the Lord God was doing was punishing people.”
This is something that not everybody can understand.
“Punishing people when the Lord does it is a sign of love.”
Why? Because the Lord is expecting that they will do something as a result of the trouble.
The key was obedience
In this particular case there was a messenger, Jonah. Messengers, meaning preachers, need to go through a training process, and they must have the skill. Jonah went through all that, and he was able to deliver the message.
“But the key was obedience, and that is the most important thing for anybody who wants to serve the Lord God.”
People say, “I would like to serve God. I would like to do something for the kingdom of God.” Which is good. But the key component is obedience. So that is the question that I ask you: are you obedient to God? Are you obedient to the commandments?
It’s tricky. Sometimes you are thinking, “I will obey within limits. I will obey this set of commands, but I will not obey this other set.” Jonah was in big trouble precisely because he struggled with obedience.
Nineveh repented
The result of Jonah’s message to the people in Nineveh was something very interesting.
“It showed that people actually could repent and could acknowledge their wrongdoing, and that is your job.”
Every time you feel the conviction in your heart that you have done something wrong, your job is to acknowledge the wrongdoing. And then what? Then you ask for forgiveness.
The purpose of fasting
Those people in Nineveh were fasting. Fasting is a very good discipline. You detox your body, and you become more spiritual, more sensitive. But the purpose of their hearts was that by doing this, the Lord God might change His heart. And in this particular case, it worked.
“And what you need to understand is that the Lord God is willing to forgive people.”
That doesn’t mean the Lord God is going to remove the consequences of your sins just because you were fasting. The speeding ticket. The problem with your credit. Health difficulties. No, my friend. It’s not that simple.
He forgives you
The Lord God wants all of us to repent. He wants us to be different. Certainly He is going to hear your prayer, and He is absolutely happy to see you fasting. But whatever He decides to do, whether it is removing that punishment from your life or not:
“What really matters is that he forgives you, and that is what you need to be content with.”
Because the Lord God is a loving God. Say your prayers. Repent. Change. Because Jesus is Lord.
One last smile
What do you call a magic dog? A Labracadabrador.
So, my friend. What are you asking the Lord God to prove to you?
Share this with someone who needs clarity.
Read along
Scriptures in this study
Jump to
Key moments
- 00:00Introduction: episode 201
- 00:15One section, from Matthew
- 00:40Matthew 12:38-41
- 01:51“But you refuse to change”
- 01:55Last week: opinionated people
- 02:09“We want”: the selfish approach
- 02:26It's really disrespectful
- 02:31To entertain you? Sure… no
- 02:49The sign of Jonah
- 03:03When God punishes, it is a sign of love
- 03:27The messenger: training and skill
- 03:54The key was obedience
- 04:20Are you obedient to God?
- 04:43Jonah struggled with obedience
- 04:54Nineveh repented
- 05:11Acknowledge your wrongdoing
- 05:26The purpose of fasting
- 06:18The Lord God is willing to forgive
- 06:52He wants us to repent
- 07:14Be content that He forgives you
- 07:43A little humor
- 08:20See you next time
Questions this study answers
Questions & answers.
What is the sign of Jonah?
The Lord Jesus told the Pharisees that the only sign they would see is the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:38-41). In Jonah's story, "what the Lord God was doing was punishing people", and Dr. Gian explains that "punishing people when the Lord does it is a sign of love", because the Lord expects people to change.
Why is demanding a sign from God the wrong approach?
"That is the classic selfish approach of people: show me that, do this for me." The Lord is not here to entertain anybody. Still, "God actually works with everyone, even those who don't have the right approach to him."
What does God want from those who serve Him?
Training and skill matter, "but the key was obedience". Not obedience within limits: Jonah was in big trouble precisely because he struggled with obedience.
What should you do when you feel conviction?
"Every time you feel the conviction in your heart that you have done something wrong, your job is to acknowledge the wrongdoing", and then you ask for forgiveness. That is what the people of Nineveh did.
Does fasting make God remove the consequences of your sins?
Fasting is a very good discipline, and the Lord God is willing to forgive. But forgiveness does not mean He simply removes every consequence. "What really matters is that he forgives you."
Full transcript Read
00:00Introduction: episode 201
Hello my dear friend welcome to our episode 201 today September 16, 2026 the topic of this day you know is Jesus I dare you interesting don't you think
00:15One section, from Matthew
well we have several things to show you one of those is that there are sections on the Bible that talk about this we are going to use only one section which is coming from the Gospel of Matthew and we read in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit please Lord guide us through this study amen and we read
00:40Matthew 12:38-41
Matthew 12:38-41 then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus they said teacher we want to see you do a miracle as a sign from God Jesus answered evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle as a sign but no miracle will be done to prove anything to them the only sign will be the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights in the same way the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights on the judgment day you people who live now will be compared with the people from Nineveh and they will be witnesses who show how guilty you are why do I say this because when Jonah preached to those people they changed their lives and you are listening to someone greater than Jonah but you refuse to change
01:51“But you refuse to change”
but you refuse to change that's powerful my
01:55Last week: opinionated people
friend last week we talked about what truly opinionated people want today you will learn that God actually works with everyone even those who don't have the right approach to him
02:09“We want”: the selfish approach
this is what they say we want to show us you show us something Jesus we want of course that is the classic selfish approach of people show me that do this for me
02:26It's really disrespectful
it's really disrespectful when you think about it
02:31To entertain you? Sure… no
what they were asking was perform a miracle do something to what to entertain you oh sure no it's not what the Lord is gonna do to anybody people think they they can demand that from the Lord God
02:49The sign of Jonah
you know the Lord Jesus was clear he said what you are going to see is the sign of Jonah the sign of Jonah that's interesting you know because in this context of the sign of Jonah
03:03When God punishes, it is a sign of love
what the Lord God was doing was punishing people this is something that not everybody can understand that punishing people when the Lord does it is a sign of love why because the Lord is expecting that something they will do as a result of the trouble
03:27The messenger: training and skill
now in this particular case there was a messenger correct which is Jonah you know that messengers meaning preachers they need to go through a training process and also they must have the skill Jonah went through all that and learned and then he was able to deliver the message
03:54The key was obedience
but the key was obedience and that is the most important thing for anybody who wants to serve the Lord God I hear people telling the rest I would like to serve God I would like to do something for God for the kingdom of God which is good but the component the key component is obedience and that is the question that I ask
04:20Are you obedient to God?
you are you obedient to God are you obedient to the commandments and it's tricky because sometimes you you feel that you can obey but you are thinking I will obey within limits I will obey this sets of commands but I will not obey this other set of commands
04:43Jonah struggled with obedience
Jonah was in a big trouble precisely because he struggled with obedience but that is not what the Lord Jesus wanted to tell the people you know
04:54Nineveh repented
actually the result of Jonah's message to the people in Nineveh brought something very interesting what was that it showed that people actually could repent and could acknowledge their wrongdoing and that is your job
05:11Acknowledge your wrongdoing
every time you feel the conviction in your heart that you have done something wrong your job is to acknowledge the wrongdoing and then what and then you ask for forgiveness now
05:26The purpose of fasting
those people in Nineveh they were fasting and it's interesting because fasting is a very good discipline for many reasons is good to fast in other words to not eat right it's it's a good thing you are going to detox your body when you are fasting also certainly you become more spiritual more sensitive more emotional when you are not eating but in this particular case the purpose of their hearts by fasting was that they thought by doing this the Lord God might change his heart the interesting thing is in this particular case it worked but there was a series of things going on
06:18The Lord God is willing to forgive
and what you need to understand is that the Lord God is willing to forgive people now that doesn't mean that when there are consequences of your sins the Lord God is going just to remove that speeding ticket or that problem with your credit or other things that can be more detrimental to you like health difficulties for example just because you were fasting and then suddenly the Lord removes that for you no my friend is not that simple listen
06:52He wants us to repent
the Lord God wants all those to repent the Lord God wants us to be different certainly he he is going to hear your prayer and he is absolutely happy to see you fasting but whatever he decides to do whether is removing that punishment from your life or not
07:14Be content that He forgives you
what really matters is that he forgives you and that is what you need to be content with knowing that the Lord God forgives you because the Lord God is a loving God I hope you are in perfect symphony with the Lord God through the Holy Spirit of the Lord the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ say your prayers repent change because Jesus is Lord
07:43A little humor
I used to be friends with a magician but we had to stop hanging out he kept disappearing on me why don't magicians ever play he didn't hit he hide and seek why don't magicians play why don't magicians ever play hide and seek because they always disappear when you are not looking what do you call a magic dog a Labracadabrador
08:20See you next time
continue watching our episodes here on episode 201 today remember we have tons of materials watch everywhere we are available hope to see you here soon
Transcribed from the video and lightly corrected. Spoken words are kept as Dr. Gian said them.