Matthew continues his account by mentioning the Queen of Sheba, also known as the Queen of the South (1 Kings 10.1-13). Luke also confirms this saying of the Master.
This generation enjoys an exceptional privilege, since it is in the , the Son of God, who is far greater than the prophet Jonah, who witnessed the repentance of the Ninevites, and than the Queen of Sheba, who traveled a great distance to verify King Solomon's wisdom.
It is therefore clear that if this queen undertook a long journey to meet King Solomon, it is all the more imperative for people to do likewise to meet the Son of God.
It is reasonable to suppose that this episode in Israel's history was well known to the Jews who were listening, particularly the , renowned for their thorough knowledge of Jewish writings.
According to Matthew 12.42 and Luke 11.31, the Queen of Sheba will intervene at the judgment of the nations (see ANN101 : The prophetic unfolding of the end times) to bring accusations against this Jewish generation that rejected Jesus the Messiah.
By stating that the Queen of the South will rise and condemn this generation, Jesus the Messiah indicates that, at the final judgment, the Queen of Sheba's diligence and receptiveness to divine wisdom will implicitly condemn the unbelief of the Jews of his time. Their refusal to acknowledge Jesus, despite the signs and teachings he offered them, will be exposed by the example of the Queen of Sheba.
We also consider another crucial point: despite the great blessings brought by Jesus the Messiah, which drew crowds who were clearly happy to be with him, his precepts were not widely adopted. This observation highlights the existence of significant opposition, which is difficult to explain in light of the events recounted.