Bible Discussion Thread

In Matthew 16:4 while addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees what does Jesus mean by saying "they are wicked and look for miraculous signs but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah"- what is the sign of Jonah mean here?

Hi DeborahMarie. We read from verse 1 that the religious leaders approached Jesus specifically to tempt or test Him. If He claimed Who He was, then He should command a sign to come down from Heaven. Jesus told them that they were able to read the signs from the near heaven (i.e. the sky) to forecast the weather conditions, but strangely were not able to read the signs that were given to them in the Prophets about theirs & man's spiritual condition.

When they read of the Prophet Jonah going to Nineveh, that wicked city, to preach against it, the religious leaders of Jesus' day should have aligned the message of that book with the condition of people's hearts now & Jesus' coming at such a time. We remember that Jesus had a similar encounter with the religious leaders back in Matthew 12:38-41, where Jesus was more specific about the prophecy: where the experiences of Jonah would be prophetical to what Jesus would face leading up to the Cross, His Death & His Resurrection.

Most would have been unaware of these aspects. Though certainly from Jesus' preaching, condemnation of them & presentation of a way out from such a resistance & hatred of Him, to accepting & believing that He was the Messiah, this should have been the lesson learnt from Jonah's days. The leaders probably went back & had a re-look at the Book of Jonah after Jesus left them - I wonder it they learnt anything new.

Thank you so much for clarification and reminding me of Jonah!!