Matthew 16:1-4

Rachel Workman: I have no reading for today.

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John Burnett: 16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a ^[a]sign from heaven. ² But He replied to them, “^[b]When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the ^[c]appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a ^[d]sign; and a ^[e]sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.  The sign of Jonah has to do with the parallel of the three days between Christ’s death and resurrection and the three days Jonah was in the belly of the whale.  In verse three, Jesus compares discernment of the times we live in to being able to look at the sky and predict rain when dark clouds form.  With the persecution of nation of Israel (By its enemies and allies), Jews and Christians, one can see that God is lining things up for Christ’s return.  As Christians, these things should bring us joy as we look forward to being with our Savior and friend, Jesus Christ. Verse four should throw up some serious red flags when a preacher or person says they asked God for a sign.  Like the health and wealth movement, the signs and wonders movement is dangerous to one’s eternality as Jesus calls them evil and adulterous.  I doubt Benny Hinn has ever preached on this verse. 

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Allen Michaels: 16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

Why did the religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign? It was characteristic of the Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's messengers to authenticate their claims. Jesus calls them an "evil and adulterous generation." The kind of adultery Jesus had in mind here was very like "spiritual" adultery. The image of adultery was often used in the scriptures for describing apostasy or infidelity towards God. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented. And the Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon. Jonah was God's sign and his message was the message of God for the people of Nineveh. Unfortunately the religious leaders in the time of Jesus were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes. They had rejected the message of John the Baptist and now they reject Jesus as God's Anointed One (Messiah) and they fail to heed his message. Simeon had prophesied at Jesus' birth that he was "destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that inner thoughts of many will be revealed" (Luke 2:34- 35).

Jesus confirmed his message with many miracles in preparation for the greatest sign of all – his resurrection on the third day. The Lord Jesus through the gift of his Holy Spirit offers us freedom from sin and deception, and he gives us wisdom for our lives, if we are willing to listen. Do you thirst for God's wisdom? James says that "the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity" (James 3:17). A double-minded person cannot receive this kind of wisdom. The single of heart and mind desire one thing alone: God who is the source of all goodness, truth, beauty, wisdom and holiness. Ask the Lord to renew your mind and to increase your thirst for his truth and wisdom.

"Lord Jesus, may I wholly desire your truth and wisdom for my life. Help me to discern truth from error and to recognize your good will and plan for my life."