We are at a turning point in Matthew’s account of Jesus’s ministry. At this time, the ministry to Galilee is ending, and Jesus will now turn his attention to traveling to Jerusalem, where the climactic events of his work will take place.
Conflict and opposition have been part of the theme up to this point. Now, it will increase with Sadducees and Pharisees coming from Jerusalem to question Jesus about his work.
The claim of the religious establishment, which will be a primary case against him in his trial in Jerusalem, is that Jesus uses magic to deceive people and lead them away from God. The penalty for such behavior is death.
As a way to expose Jesus, the authorities ask for a sign from heaven (Matthew 16.1).
Jesus answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
“And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
“An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”
Then he left them and went away (Matthew 16.2-4).
Impact Day
I am writing this blog article on a day when the local weather station calls it an “impact day.” It is expected to storm in Kansas City today. When I went outside to read my Bible and have a cup of coffee, the sky was tinged red.
The old saying, “Red sky in morning, sailors take warning,” is true today just as it was when Jesus used a similar expression with the religious authorities.
The question, then and now, is whether we know how to interpret the signs of the times. The signs of the times in Jesus’ day were all of the miracles and teaching he gave the crowds.
It was an opportunity time in Israel when Jesus walked their streets. They should have recognized that the kingdom of God was at hand, repented, and believed the good news of its arrival.
Because the kingdom didn’t arrive as expected, they not only failed to believe but also actively opposed God’s work through His Messiah.
It is fairly easy to see how blind these religious authorities were when we have an open Bible and years of experience observing what Jesus did while he walked the hills and valleys of Israel. It is an entirely different matter when we try to discern the signs of the times in 2024.
Preconceived ideas about God’s work prevented the scribes and Pharisees from recognizing Jesus for who He is. What can we do to better be able to understand the signs of the times in our era?
Here are some suggestions.
(1) Have an open mind.
The religious authorities in Jesus’s day had closed minds. As a result, they opposed Jesus because he didn’t fit their idea of what a Messiah should be.
An open mind will permit us to receive insights from God about his activity in the world.
(2) Live in the “Fear of the Lord”
We need God’s wisdom and knowledge and the book of Proverbs tells us where it is found.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).
When Rudy Ross and I were studying the book of Proverbs, I learned what I believe is an excellent definition of the fear of the Lord.
The foundation for the fear of the Lord is a humble and loving relationship with God. In the context of that relationship, we are willing to receive His guidance and act upon it.
If we live in this fashion, we give God the freedom to impart His wisdom and knowledge about the signs of the times.
(3) God’s Word and Current Events
I believe there is a balance between reading the Bible and staying informed about current events.
If all we do is spend time scrolling on our phones or watching the news on television, we’re out of balance. Conversely, if we only read the Bible and don’t know what’s happening in the world, we may miss out on important things God wants us to know from our culture.
My recommendation is that we find, guided by the Holy Spirit, the best balance between reading the Bible and being aware of current events.
The Sign of Jonah
This is the second time in Matthew’s Gospel that he records Jesus telling the religious authorities about the sign of Jonah. They didn’t understand what he was saying.
However, we can look back and see the sign of Jonah was nothing less than the crucifixion, three days in the grave, and then the resurrection.
Jonah was part of God’s plan of salvation for Nineveh, but Jesus was the Savior. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus made him the Savior of the world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 