Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 12:41-42

"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. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here." — Matthew 12:41-42 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: So that no one would think that the same things would happen now among the Jews as had happened long ago among the Ninevites—that just as Jonah converted them and their city was delivered from danger, so the Jews would be converted after the resurrection.

The Lord now shows the contrary: that they would receive no fruit from the benefit of the passion, but would instead suffer even more grievous things, as He indicates below in the example of the demon.

But now He first shows what just punishment they will suffer, saying, The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation.

Remigius of Auxerre: In these words, the Lord shows that there will be one resurrection of both the good and the bad, countering certain heretics who said there would be two: one for the good and another for the bad. These words also overthrow that fable of the Jews, who used to say that the Resurrection will be held a thousand years before the Judgment, clearly proving that the Judgment will follow immediately after the Resurrection. And shall condemn it.

St. Jerome: This is not by a sentence of judgment, but by the comparison of their example, as He adds, For they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. This word "hic" is to be taken as an adverb of place, not as a pronoun. Jonah (according to the Septuagint) preached for three days; I have preached for so long. He preached to the Assyrians, an unbelieving nation; I preach to God's own people, the Jews. He preached with his voice only, performing no miracles, while I, performing so many wonders, am falsely accused of being Beelzebub.

St. John Chrysostom: Yet the Lord does not stop here, but adds another denunciation, saying, The queen of the south shall rise in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

This example was even more striking than the first. Jonah went to the Ninevites, but the queen of the south did not wait for Solomon to come to her; she herself sought him out. Though a woman, a foreigner, and dwelling so far away, she was not afraid of death in her desire to hear his wise words. This woman went to Solomon; I came here. She rose up from the ends of the earth; I go around your towns and villages. He spoke of trees and wood; I speak of unspeakable mysteries.

St. Jerome: So the queen of the south will condemn the Jews in the same manner as the men of Nineveh will condemn unbelieving Israel. This is the queen of Sheba, of whom we read in the books of Kings and Chronicles, who left her nation and kingdom and came through so many difficulties to hear the wisdom of Solomon, bringing him many gifts.

In these instances of Nineveh and the queen of Sheba, the faith of the Gentiles is also significantly placed above that of Israel.

Rabanus Maurus: The Ninevites typify those who cease from sin, while the queen typifies those who do not know sin. For penitence puts away sin, but wisdom avoids it.

Remigius of Auxerre: The Church, gathered from the Gentiles, is beautifully described as a queen who knows how to rule her ways. The Psalmist speaks of her: The queen stood on thy right hand (Psalm 45:9). She is the queen of the south because she abounds in the fervor of the Holy Spirit. Solomon, interpreted as "peaceful," signifies Him of whom it is said, He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).