The Wednesday of Ember Week in Lent
Posted on February 25, 2026 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 12:38-50 (NKJV)
12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Devotion
The Ninevites heard the preaching of Jonah and repented in sackcloth. He performed no signs, he did no wonders. He preached the destruction of Ninevah. “Forty days and Ninevah shall be destroyed.” That was it; just a simple sermon, and the people of Ninevah, from the greatest to the least, repented, turned away from their rebellion, and believed the Lord God.
This is not so with the scribes and Pharisees. Our Lord Jesus not only preached, but also did signs and wonders. He had just cast out a demon who made a man blind and mute. They did not repent at this, but accused Him of being in league with Satan. Having just seen a sign, they had the gall to ask Him for a different sign! In truth, they did not want any sign, for they did not believe on the Lord Jesus. This is the point our Lord makes: the Ninevites repented after the preaching of Jonah, but not the Jews, who have not just a type of the Christ, but the actual Christ before them!
Jonah preached destruction; our Lord came to the Israelites with the promise of the remission of sins. And where there is the remission of sins there is also life and salvation. Jonah came preaching death, the Lord, life. The Ninevites repented, the scribes and Pharisees hardened their hearts. Blessed are all those who trust in the sign that points to our redemption: the sign of Jonah, the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
Collect: Mercifully hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Invocavit Sunday
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
