Matthew 16:1-4
‘The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign; and so a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.’
The religious leaders approach Jesus and ask Him for a sign. He knows they are not sincere. They’ve been trying to trick Him for a while. About a sign, He has been healing people and casting out demons constantly. So, in reality they have had plenty of signs. He healed some in their presence, but they got mad as He did it on the sabbath.
If we are open to God He will manifest Himself to us. It won’t come in a way that says, “God is here talking to you”. We probably won’t know it’s God at all. It’ll be in bread crumbs. He is like a shepherd and He will produce the sound of a cool brook and draw us.
The religious leaders weren’t open to Him. He gave plenty of signs. They got caught up in Jesus violating their traditions. They weren’t scripture, but just the ways that they thought things should be done.
Jesus points out they had missed the sign of His coming. It was in Daniel. He gave the day of His arrival. Here it is, “Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress”, (Daniel 9:25). I believe the exact day was at the triumphal entry. Depending on when today’s verse was it may have been two hundred days until the coming. They should have looked around to see who on the scene who fits the description of the Messiah. Jesus and John the Baptist where the only big names and John pointed to Jesus. He says they should have known that.
Jesus tells them there will be one more sign, that of Jonah. That is being dead for three days and rising again. He did rise and many saw Him. Some pharisees did believe.
The way to Jesus isn’t difficult. It takes childlike faith. Even the most simple among us can believe. There are things which get in the way. Pride may be the biggest obstacle. James 4:6 says, ‘But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”’
If we look at the Beatitudes we see the different mindsets God wants. To be poor in spirit, to be meek, to be a peace maker, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to mourn, to be merciful, to be pure in heart and to be persecuted for righteousness sake. These are in Matthew and Luke. God works these into His children.
Lord, thank You that the way to You is easy. Help us to maintain the attitudes You prefer. Help us not to be prideful. Thank You for being the Good Shepherd.