Keraia
Matthew 16

Matthew 16:3

The Demand for a Sign · Matthew 16:1–4
Read Matthew 16

Translations

Modern
…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 not the signs of the times.
Traditional
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Literal
…and in the morning, ‘Today a storm, for the sky is red, being overcast.’ Indeed, you know to discern the face of the sky, but the signs of the times you are not able.
Latin
Et mane: Hodie tempestas, rutilat enim triste cælum.

Original

Greek
English
…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 not the signs of the times.

Notes

Matthew 16:3

The signs of the times were Jesus himself and the miracles he performed (see Matthew 16:4; 11:2–6; 12:28).

Matthew 16:2–3

The leaders asked Jesus for a sign from heaven (Matthew 16:1). Jesus made a wordplay with their request. They could read signs in the sky to predict the weather (the Greek word ouranos means both “sky” and “heaven”). But they failed to recognize the Messiah, even though many signs had already been given (see 11:1–6).

Matthew 16:1–12

After being welcomed among the Gentiles (non-Jews), Jesus returned to his own people. There he faced rejection again.

Events

Parallels

Mark 8:11–13 Luke 12:54–56

Glossary

Apothegm Faith Gospel of Matthew Jesus Christ Red

Topics

Blindness: Spiritual Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Hypocrites: Pharisees Jesus, the Christ: Refuses to Give a Sign to the Pharisees (In the Region of Magdala) Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: General Scriptures Concerning Morning: A Red Sky In, a Sign of Bad Weather Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by Jesus Reproof: Faithfulness in Jesus Sign: A Token of Coming Events Signs Weather: Signs of