“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here” Luke 11:31 KJV
“The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. Luke 11:31 NASB
Have you ever considered some of the ways in which the Lord Jesus is greater than Solomon? Of course, it goes without saying that He is greater than the best of men. But what is being emphasized in His statement is an even more precious truth. He is greater than the greatest of men even in regard to the greatest strengths and even when displayed at their best moments.
The visit of the Queen of Sheba must be one of the high watermarks of Solomon’s reign. She came to hear and test the wisdom of Solomon. Her legendary remark, “the half hath not been told me” (1 Kings 10:7), is meant to highlight the greatness of his wisdom further.
Turn now to the Lord Jesus for a moment and contrast Him with Solomon. Recall the scene in 1 Kings 3 when, at Gibeon, the Lord offered Solomon a “blank check.” “Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5) was the proposal. Solomon “wisely” asked for wisdom. It was to his eternal credit that rather than riches or power, he wanted wisdom to lead God’s people. But the Lord Jesus never asked for wisdom. He is the wisdom of God. All wisdom is resident in Him. Scholars may cavil over the correct reading of Colossian 2:3: “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Some argue that it is in the mystery; others insist that it is in Christ Himself. Is there really any difference?
Christ never prayed for wisdom. He never lacked wisdom for any issue with which He was confronted. In the Solomon section of Matthew, where He is challenged with question after question (Matt 21-23), He answers with an artless ease and simplicity that astounds even His harshest critics.
Think now of the times in which Solomon displayed his wisdom. All the nation was astounded at how he could so ably adjudicate the case between the two harlots (1 Kings 3). But Christ did something far superior: He forgave a harlot and made her a child of God (John 8).
Referring to the wisdom displayed in judging between the harlots, there is another contrast with Christ. Solomon was able to award the living child to the rightful mother. But once again, the Lord did what was a far better thing. He restored a dead daughter to her parents (Mark 5:41) and a dead son to his mother (Luke 7:11). People were awed at Solomon’s judgment. People were astonished beyond measure at the greatness of Christ.
Solomon needed God’s plans for building a house (1 Kings 4-8). But the Lord Jesus is Son over His own House (Heb 3:6). Solomon’s glory is eclipsed by the glory of a lily (Luke 12:37), but the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be forever and forever (2 Pet 3:18).
One final example will have to suffice. When Solomon was old, his heart was turned away from God. He compromised and accommodated his many wives and their false gods. It hardly needs to be said that from the moment of conception until His final breath at Calvary, the heart of the Lord Jesus was faithful and true to His Father (Ps 22:10).
Consider:
Can you find other contrasts with Solomon?
