Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 12:41

"The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here." — Matthew 12:41 (ASV)

The men of Nineveh shall rise... — The reasoning is parallel to the references to Tyre and Sidon, and Sodom and Gomorrah in Matthew 11:21-24, but with this difference: there, the reference was to what might have been, while here, it is to what actually happened. The repentance of the Gentiles, and their search for wisdom with far poorer opportunities, will put to shame the slowness and unbelief of Israel. The word “rise” is used not merely of the fact of resurrection but of standing up as witnesses .

A greater than Jonah — No chapter contains more marvelous assertions of our Lord’s superhuman majesty. Greater than the Temple (Matthew 12:6), greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon: could this be rightly claimed by any man for himself who was not more than man?