Matthew 16:1-4

Matthew 16:1-4
There is a subtlety in this text that is not often noticed. The Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus to show them a sign. But notice their words, “a sign from heaven.” In other words, they had already seen Jesus perform many types of miracles, but that was not good enough for them. They wanted to see a miracle by which they could be sure it was from the power of God and not from the power of Satan. In John 6, Jesus was similarly challenged after feeding the 5000 with a few loaves and fish. “Moses brought us bread from heaven,” they said. How can these people be so stubborn? How could they possibly see miracles that did good and showed compassion and ascribe the power to anyone other than God?The answer is that belief is not so much a matter of enough evidence; it is a matter of the will. God has given us plenty of evidence for His existence as well as proof that Jesus is the Son of God. But one must be willing to impartially examine the evidence and accept it when it is found to be true. In Luke 16:30-31, the rich man pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead in order to warn his brothers. His reasoning was that they would listen if someone rose from the dead. Not so, said Abraham. If they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, then they would not listen even if someone rose from the dead. Faith begins with the will to be honest with the evidence.

Jesus rebuked these Jewish leaders for being able to interpret the signs of the weather but unable to interpret the signs of the times. Jesus is referring to a multitude of Old Testament prophecies that foretold of the days of the messiah. Therefore, the only sign that would have a chance of qualifying as a sign from heaven would be the sign of Jonah. Luke 11:29-30 explains this sign. Just as Jonah figuratively rose from the dead after being in the belly of the great fish for three days, so Jesus would literally raise from the dead after three days. Jonah’s resurrection became a sign to the people of Nineveh and caused them to repent on the first day that he entered the city. Unfortunately, the resurrection of Jesus would not have the same impact on these Jews or on the world today.
Berry Kercheville