The Pharisees demanded a sign, some dramatic proof that He was indeed the Messiah. Now they had already seen healings and demons being cast out, so one might think they had seen enough to at least realise that someone special was here. They were probably looking for a sign in the sky or something like that (Luke 11:16).
Here Jesus refuses to give them a sign. Of course later He did do various miracles such as feeding the 5000, and earlier He had calmed the storm. So there is a lesson here on miracles. If someone has a closed mind then no amount of evidence will convince them. Show them one thing and they will just produce another set of questions. If we go looking for miracles we probably be disappointed, but if we simply follow Christ then we will see them from time to time. God does not do miracles as a piece of showmanship, they are done to meet a need, to fulfil a purpose.
Instead of giving them a sign, Jesus points to their history. The nation of Israel had already experienced quite enough to know the truth, if only they recognised their need of salvation. Jesus points them back to Jonah, and uses it as an allusion to the resurrection. He also points out Israel's failings, and that they were worse than the nations around them. This would be very hurtful as they considered themselves superior to others. The Ninevites repented when they heard the word of God. The Queen of Sheba (Queen of the South) came to listen to Solomon because she recognised godly wisdom. Yet the Pharisees would not respond to the word of God, and refused to recognise the wisdom of Jesus. So they would be far worse off on the day of judgement that Nineveh or the Queen of Sheba.
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