Sunday 02Jan2022
Matthew chapter 16, from my New Testament reading today, tells of our Lord's reply to the Pharisees and the Sadducees who demanded a sign from Him. He pointed out that they knew how to predict the weather from the appearance of the sky: that a red evening sky would bring fair weather but a red morning sky would mean bad weather. However, they could not discern the signs of the times.
It is obvious that the saying, "Red skies at night, sailors' delight. Red skies at dawn, sailors be warned." was already common knowledge in ancient Biblical times.
- Matthew 16:1 - 4 KJV King James Version
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1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that
he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
To the Pharisees and the Sadducees who could not discern signs of the times, who ignored the warning and call to repentance by John the Baptist, who refused to believe the preaching of the kingdom of heaven by our Lord Iesus, to such people, there was only one sign from God the Heavenly Father: when they see that the Lord Iesus would be killed, be buried and be raised by God on the third day.
This was the Sign of the Prophet Jonah.
- Matthew 12:40 ESV English Standard Version
- For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
