Matthew 12:38

Bible verse

Matthew 12:38 is the 38th verse in the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

Note Luke (11:16) includes, [a sign] from Heaven. The scribes and Pharisees mentioned here are the ones which previously stated that Christ had cast out devils by the help of Beelzebub. Now they ask for a heavenly sign. According to Lapide the meaning of the scribes is as follows: "O Christ, are in the earth and of the earth, but we wish to see celestial miracles in Heaven. For God, Whom You assert to be the Author of these miracles, dwells in Heaven. Cause, therefore, that fire may come down from Heaven, as Elijah did; or that the sky may flash with new and marvellous thunders and lightnings, as Samuel did (1 Sam. 7:10); or that the sun should stand still, as Joshua did." Similarities of this verse and the next one with Matthew 16:1–4 (and also the parallel passages in Mark 8:11 13; Luke 11:16, 29 32) are noted; the comparison of the passages in Matthew 12 and Matthew 16 is as follows. Matthew 12:38–39 Matthew 16:1–4 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." But he answered them,

"An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He 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 seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah."

Chrysostom: " Because the Lord had so oft repressed the shameless tongue of the Pharisees by His sayings, they now turn to His works, whereat the Evangelist wondering, says, Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign of thee; and that at a time when they should have been moved, when they should have wondered, and been dumb with astonishment; yet even at such time they desist not from their malice. For they say, We would see a sign of thee, that they may take Him as in a snare."