Focus On the Sign From Heaven

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, `It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, `It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."  (Matthew 16:1-4 NKJ)

I think it is interesting that so many people are "searching" for evidence of God's truth. Some are looking for signs upon which they can base their beliefs. And to some degree that is not a bad thing. Even Abraham constantly asked God for convincing evidence of his promise.

So, on the one hand, those who approached Jesus with their request for "sign from heaven" were asking for a normal thing. Yet, on the other hand, Matthew explains they were "testing" Christ, which was not a good thing.

Further consideration, however, shows us that Jesus was appalled by this request for a sign from these intelligent people, who could discern natural elements and conditions but could not "discern the signs of the times."

And for the Lord, this was evidence of their wickedness. The weather was more important to them than discerning the signs of the times in which they lived. To Jesus this was an adulteration of God's truth, because it made the temporal circumstances more important than eternal events.

In addition, God had already provided evidence of Christ's identity. And I conclude that they had already rejected the previously provided evidence. And Paul explains that rejecting God's truth will not change God or his truth (Romans 3:3-4).

And in the 21st century context, God has already given us "a sign from heaven," and no other sign can override his sign. The sign of the Prophet Jonah is the only sign coming from heaven and other signs will not be given.

Dear Father, thank you for who you are. To your glory I affirm the evidence of Calvary and the empty tomb. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Look at the Evidence of Calvary and the Resurrection . . .