In Matthew 12:40-41, Jesus declares that He will be in the grave the same amount of time Jonah was in the whale’s belly. He goes on to say that while the Ninevites repented in the face of Jonah’s preaching, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who rejected Jesus were rejecting One who is far greater than Jonah. Just as Jonah brought the truth of God regarding repentance and salvation to the Ninevites, so too does Jesus bring the same message (Jonah 2:9; John 14:6) of salvation of and through God alone (Romans 11:36).
Siya ay nagpatuloy sa pagsasabi na samantalang ang mga taga- Ninive ay nagsisi sa harap ng pangangaral ni Jonas, ang mga Pariseo at mga tagapagturo ng Batas na nagtakwil kay Hesus naman ang nagtatakwil sa Kanya na tunay pang higit kaysa kay Jonas. Kung paanong dinala ni Jonas ang katotohanan ng Diyos tungkol sa pagsisisi at kaligtasan sa mga taga- Ninive, gayundin naman ang dalang mensahe ni Hesus (Romans 11:36).