Discerning the Sky and Not the Times - Matthew 16:3

Matthew the apostle wrote about Jesus feeding four thousand men plus women and children, and afterward, “he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red”, and in chapter sixteen and verse three of his book, Matthew questioned how the Pharisees and Sadducees were able to “discern the face of the sky” and not “the signs of the times” where we read:

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?

The verse reads, “And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and in the morning” which means “and in the fourth watch of the night from three o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock approximately”, “it will be foul weather” which means “it will be stormy, rainy or with a tempest” “to day” or “this very day”: “for the sky” or “because and since the region where the clouds and the tempests gather and where thunder and lightning are produced” “is red” which means “is glowing red” “and lowring” or “overcast and rendered gloomy”. Matthew shared how Jesus continued His discourse by referring to the way the Pharisees and Sadducees look at a “glowing red” “sky” which is overcast and determine the “weather” will be “stormy or rainy” that day.

The verse goes on to say, “O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?” Matthew continued with the words, “o you hypocrites” which means “you stage players, actors, dissemblers and pretenders”, “you can discern” which means “the Pharisees and Sadducees are able to make a distinction and determine” “the face” or “the presence and countenance” “of the sky” which means “the region where the clouds and the tempests gather and where thunder and lightning are produced”; “but” or “nevertheless, moreover and” “can not you discern” which means “the Pharisees and Sadducees are not able to make a distinction and determine” “the signs” or “the miracles, wonders and tokens” “of the times” which means “belonging to the opportune and seasonable events”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the Pharisees and Sadducees as “play actors” because they were able to determine the weather but not the “wonders, miracles and tokens” of their “time”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus called out the religious leaders for their lack of ability to understand the “times” within which they lived. Jesus Christ the Messiah was among them, and they could not see Him for who He was. Not simply “miracles”, but the “miracle worker” was in their presence, and they did not know it. God desires people to relate to Him through His Son Jesus, and those who seek the One who performs the “signs” rather than the “signs” themselves will find Him a caring and loving “Savior and Lord” who is able to meet their every need.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus refers to, “a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign” come to Jesus again, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.