Gospel in Art: She came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba by Willem de Poorter, 1630 © The Leiden Collection

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 21 July 2025
Matthew 12:38-42

At that time: Some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Jesus, saying, 'Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.' But he answered them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great sea creature, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.'

Reflection on the painting

In today's Gospel, Jesus challenges the scribes and Pharisees for demanding a sign. They want to see something spectacular to prove His authority, despite the many things He has already done. Their request reveals a deeper issue: a refusal to recognise God at work in the ordinary. There is a human tendency, especially among religiously minded people, to crave dramatic or extraordinary signs; something undeniable and miraculous that leaves no space for doubt. Yet, that is rarely how God chooses to act. More often, He reveals Himself through the quiet, the simple, the everyday. God comes to us in and through the ordinary more than the extraordinary!

Jesus responds by reminding them that someone greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon, is already standing before them - but they lack the openness to see it. The same message applies to us. In searching for something dramatic or unusual, we risk overlooking the presence of Christ already at work in our lives: in the sacraments, in Scripture, in moments of silence, in the kindness of others. God has already given us all we need to grow in faith and deepen our relationship with Him. What is needed is not more proof, but more attentiveness.

Jesus mentions King Solomon in our reading. The Queen of Sheba, a foreigner and outsider, recognised the wisdom of Solomon and made a long journey to seek it. In contrast, the Pharisees and scribes, who are insiders, standing face to face with Jesus, the Incarnate Word, the Wisdom of God in person, fail to recognise Him. Willem de Poorter's painting portrays the Old Testament encounter between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-13). Curious about Solomon's famed wisdom and intrigued by his devotion to a single God, the queen journeyed from the distant land of Sheba (likely in modern-day Yemen) with a grand entourage. She came not only bearing lavish gifts of gold, spices, and jewels, but also with deep scepticism, intending to test the king with a series of difficult questions. After witnessing the splendour of Solomon's court and hearing his very wise answers, her doubts gave way to admiration, both for the king and for his God. Her doubt gave way to faith.

De Poorter captures the scene at the turning point, when the Queen, now convinced, kneels before Solomon in reverence. She is richly dressed, a golden crown upon her head and a flowing yellow cloak draped over a white gown, symbolising both her nobility (the golden yellow) and humility (the simple white). Servants flank her, carrying ornate vessels containing her royal offerings. Solomon, dressed in regal purple and seated on an elevated, canopied throne, looks down upon her. The composition powerfully conveys the shift from scepticism to awe, as wisdom and faith meet in a moment of mutual recognition.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-12-38-42-2025/

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