|
|
 |
THE
PARABLE OF FORECASTING THE WEATHER
(Matthew 16:1-4; Luke 12: 54-56)
16:1
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested[1] him by asking him to
show them a sign[2]
from heaven.2 He replied, When evening comes, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,” 3 and in the morning, “Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. Jesus then left them and went away. 12:54
He said to the crowd: When you see a cloud rising in the
west, immediately you say, “It’s going to rain,” and it does. A
DISPUTE BETWEEN JESUS AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The
Pharisees, a legalistic religious party, and the rationalistic Sadducees,
a smaller religious party and urban elite, were traditional rivals
with different beliefs and practices.
Yet they combined to trap Christ by asking for a sign in
the sky to prove that he was the Messiah.
Perhaps they wanted something spectacular like a voice from
heaven or an apocalyptic vision.
Together they were a dangerous opposition since the Pharisees
had popular support while the Sadducees had political power.
When they confronted Jesus, he refused their demand.
A
WARNING TO “THIS GENERATION”
Jesus’
reference to their ability to correctly predict the weather implied
that they already had the “proof” they needed.
He quoted what is for us an everyday saying: “Red sky
at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.”
(The Message). The
westerly wind from the Mediterranean Sea brought heavy rain while
with the hot desert wind from the south came a scorching heat. They were alert to the signs of the weather but ignorant of
the spiritual significance of the “signs of appointed times.”
(Knox Translation). They
could interpret natural signs but not discern spiritual signs. Jesus
rebuked the failure of “the crowd” to read the signs of contemporary
events, the unfolding of God’s programme, and the drift of their
history to the disaster of the approaching Roman-Jewish war of AD
66-73. How little Israel
and their leaders understood the political and spiritual situation.
Israel deliberately shut its eyes to the meaning and significance
of events in the nation. It
did not recognize the arrival of the Messiah, their spiritual crisis,
and the approaching conflict with the Roman Empire.
Soon Jerusalem would be destroyed (AD 70) and the Jewish
state overturned. Israel had an appointment with the judgment of God.
Israel
failed to “decipher the meaning of this era.” (Moffatt Translation).
Jesus said that there were sufficient indications by which
people should judge himself: his miracles, his teaching, the ministry
of John the Baptist, and the state of affairs in Palestine.
All these were indicators by which people at that time should
have read the “signs of the times” i.e. the signs of God.
Their understanding of the weather proved that they were
prudent where their worldly interests were involved.
THE
SIGN OF JONAH
The
religious leaders skeptically argued that if Jesus claimed his power
was from God, he must prove it by a “sign”.
Their skepticism was typical of “this generation” (Matthew
11:16; 12:39, 41, 42, 45). For centuries Israel had the Old Testament prophecies about
the Messiah but the majority of Israel was blind and ignorant of
the Christ who stood before them as God’s greatest sign.
Signs had already been given them such as the feeding of
the four thousand (15:38).
Their request for a miraculous sign was insincere, as they
had already decided not to believe him.
They “tested” him looking for evidence to use against
him. The
only sign they would be given was “the sign of Jonah” which
Jesus had previously given them (12:38-42).
The sign of Jonah was the prophet Jonah himself and his message
of repentance and judgment. The ministry of Jesus paralleled that of Jonah: “One greater
than Jonah is here.” (Matthew 12:41).
Jesus himself was God’s sign.
Jonah also anticipated Jesus’ ministry to the Gentiles.
Just as the Old Testament prophet Jonah spent three days
“buried” in a large sea-monster, so Jesus would be buried for three
days before his resurrection.
The final proof of Christ’s authority would be his resurrection.
GOD
LOOKS FOR FAITH
Jesus
refused to produce signs that were made to order.
Nor did he do miracles as proofs.
Rather compassion moved him to meet a person’s need.
The crowd was willfully blind and dishonest.
They pretended to ask sincerely for something that when it
was shown to them, they were determined to ignore.
Therefore he called them “hypocrites”[3]
because they refused to read the indicators for what they were.
They knew what God wanted (repentance) but they waited for
“signs”. They wanted
to prove that Jesus was not the Messiah rather than accept his claims.
Therefore
Jesus condemned them as “a wicked and adulterous generation”
or “a wicked and apostate generation.” (Barclay Translation).
“Adulterous” refers to spiritual not physical adultery (James
4:4). This “wicked
generation” was unfaithful to God who was their spiritual husband.
Adultery was a metaphor for apostasy or disloyalty frequently
used in the Old Testament. A
SPECIAL TIME IN HISTORY WHEN GOD ACTS In
Matthew 16:3 and Luke 12:56, the Greek word “kairos” translated
“times”
and “time” refers to “the time when things are brought
to a crisis, the decisive epoch waited for; a definitely limited
portion of time, with the added idea of suitableness.”[4].
It is a term related to the end-times meaning “the time of
crisis, the last times.” This
particular word derives its full meaning in the NT from its use
in connection with the fulfillment of OT Messianic prophecy in the
coming of Jesus Christ. “Time”
in this sense marks a point at which God may be expected to act
in human affairs, bringing nearer to fulfillment his plan of redemption
by some event, challenge or opportunity to which people are invited
to respond. The
climax of history is the fulfillment of God’s redeeming purpose
in the coming of Jesus Christ.
History is the sphere of God’s action.
He acts in “times” of his own appointing and such
“times” become significant when people see them for what
they are and respond to them appropriately.
INTERPRETING
HISTORY
Secular
historians seek to explain human history in terms of economic, social
and political ideas and the forces of nature together with the factor
of charismatic individuals.
However, the biblical view of history assumes that God is
continually involved in the affairs of his world.
God’s people therefore should offer a spiritual interpretation
of world affairs that honours the sovereign Lord of history. In the end it is God who is control. In
this parable Jesus criticized the people of his day for their inability
to interpret current events and to respond appropriately.
It is not always easy to discern or interpret the signs of
our own time. We ought not to be blind to what God is doing in our nation
or in international affairs.
Does God judge the nations today? The
risen Christ emphasized “he who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29;
3:6, 13, 22). The expression
“he who has an ear” is a personal challenge to understand
the continuous working of the Holy Spirit in human affairs.
What is God through the Spirit saying to you personally?
What is God saying to your local church?
What is God saying to the worldwide body of Christ?
Truth is to be received and acknowledged by faith. FOR
REFLECTION
PRAYER
Lord,
help me to be spiritually wide-awake and understand the “signs of
the times”. May I put
into practice the things you have already made clear.
Amen.
Jim Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Education. [1]The
Greek word means, “To make proof or trial of."
[2] The Greek word means, a “mark or token by which something is known.” A miracle, for example, is important not so much for what it is but for what it indicates about the person who does it. [3]
A hypocrite was originally an actor in a play, someone who pretended
to be what he was not and one who was playing a part.
Jesus sternly condemned this sin in religion.
[4]
Thayer, page 318.
|
