1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
As soon as Jesus returns to Israel's territory, opposition from Jewish leaders resurfaces. The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.. The Pharisees and Saducees were rival groups of leaders, so this is an unusual grouping. Here they operate together (Greek: one article governs both groups), for two reasons. First, they are the two main groups of the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish council (Acts 23:6). Second, they are united by a common opposition to Jesus: the enemy of my enemy is my friend (Luke 23:12). 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. The leaders quest for a sign is misguided, even foolish. Matthew indicates that the request for a sign is insincere. Matthew says they are testing or tempting Jesus. At best, they seek some marvel that transcends the healings that they know so well, something so spectacular and public that God must be the source. Yet Jesus has already performed an abundance of signs and they never believed. Third, Jesus regards them as hostile, for as soon as their conversation ends, He leaves Israel again, traveling far north, to Caesarea Philippi (16:5, 13). But before Jesus departs, he commends the Pharisees and Saducees for their ability to read the signs of the weather: a red sky in the evening signified good weather; in the morning a red sky meant just the opposite. How sad then that they could read the weather but could not read the signs of great events taking place in their times (16:2-3). As religious leaders, they, above all others, should know that God had visited his people, had sent the long-expected Jesus. A wicked generation cannot read the signs. The proof that they cannot interpret the signs is that they ask for a sign immediately after Jesus gives a sign! Their spiritual blindness keeps them from seeing Jesus. And as long as they refuse to see Jesus they will stay blind. As Jesus says in Luke 13:34-35: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing… I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' Jesus compares himself to Jonah. Jonah did not perform signs, he was the sign. Thrown overboard in a raging sea, swallowed by a great fish, spat out on dry ground, then preaching to great effect to the Gentiles, Jonah himself was the sign. So too with Jesus. The leaders do not need signs by Jesus, they needed to see Jesus. His presence, his life, is God's greatest sign, then and now. The Jewish leaders needed to add faith to the words and deeds of Jesus (cf. Heb 4:2). 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Then they would perceive. So it is to this day. The quest for signs is wise if we are willing to see and to believe. But when we see, we must also discern God's work. We must be willing to discern the voice of God and the nature of the times. The desire for signs, then and now People are always looking for signs that may guide them. They seek the truth, they seek personal direction in an hour of decision. In the ancient near east, people sought guidance in some unusual places, In hepatoscopy, ancient pagans believed memory and intelligence resided in the liver. Much as 19th century phrenologists studied the shape of the cranium to discover unveil mental traits, the ancients carefully examined the livers of animals such as sheep in order to discern the future. In rhabdomancy, (Rhabdomancy is a type of divination in which a hazel rod is used to trace the presence of minerals or metals underground) the ancients tossed up arrows and interpreted the pattern they took upon falling. In hydromancy, (Hydromancy (from Greek 'hydro', water, and 'manteia', divination) is the art of divination by means of water, including the color, ebb and flow, or ripples produced by pebbles dropped in a pool.) they tried to interpret the water left over in a cup. They also kept idols in their homes to represent the gods and ask their direction or aid. They also tried to consult with spirits. They also studied the stars for guidance. Astronomy studies the stars scientifically. Astrology studies the influence of stars on earthly events. It has an appealing premise: there is a harmony in the universe, so that the movements of planets and stars affect events on earth. But as astronomers study the universe and its vast expanse, it has become impossible to believe that objects that are trillions of miles away could directly influence on earthly events. Or has it? Curiously, a survey of university students showed that 45% believed that there was something to astrology. Amazingly, 37% of students in the hard sciences believed the same thing. We no longer consult livers and arrows, but we are not so different from ancient people. Millions of people still read palms, tea leaves, and cards. We flip coins. Some Christians flip open the Bible at random and expect to encounter a verse that will guide them. We seek mentors and counselors, which ordinarily makes great sense. But we also expect mentors, pastors and counselors to hear a three minute summary of our life story and then dispense golden oracles. If we live as disciples, most choices will be between one good thing and another. You may need counsel to decide between sales, finance, and management, but all three are basically good. Still, it is good to discern the signs of our times. Let me offer a few observations… Signs of our times A. Ever changing forms of self-destructive behavior First, Remember, the kingdom of God is like a seed. God plants it and it grows steadily until it reaches full maturity. Evil also grows, but the Bible does not teach us to expect society to disintegrate. Rather, the world gets worse in some ways and better in other ways. As for evil, I believe the forms of evil change continually so that we must ever be watchful. For example, we are most grateful that democracy is taking hold in Afghanistan and that the Taliban have been ousted from power. The Taliban were, all sources indicate good at one thing – cutting the poppy/opium trade in Afghanistan. Sadly, when the Taliban left, many poppy growers and opium merchants returned. We should also expect personal forms of sin and self-destructive behavior to shift without necessarily getting better or worse overall (Statistics from the National Institutes for Health, the Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Census Bureau). Consider: The incidence of cigarette smoking has virtually been cut in half over the last four decades. In 1965, 42% of all adults aged 18 and over smoked cigarettes. Today, 21 or 22% smoke. This is good news, since cigarettes, when used according to directions (insert in mouth, set on fire, inhale), kill one third of their users. Or take drug and alcohol abuse. Abuse has remained relatively constant over the last decades, but the forms keep changing. In 1980, 34% of high school seniors admitted to trying marijuana. In 1990, it was 14%. In 2000, it was 22%. Use of cocaine, heroin, and abuse of alcohol experience wide swings too. In recent years, cocaine use appears to be rising again. In 2003, 42% of young adults, age 18-25, admitted to binge drinking in the past year. Then there is gambling. Small caliber gambling is on the rise with the current poker rage. But "problem gambling" is too. Problem gambling entails "a progressive… preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting consequences. (National Council on Problem Gambling) The truth The third sign of the times that I will mention is the most serious. Americans are very scientific and very religious. We are confident in the methods we use to pursue scientific truth. Physicists say the laws or principles of physics are the same for all people in all places and times. Other scientists say the same; they strive to begin and end with objective reality and truth. But our pursuit of ethical and spiritual truth is quite the opposite. The point of reference is the perceiving subject rather than the world perceived. Americans are very religious, but perhaps our single-minded pursuit of material wealth creates an emotional vacuum that draw us to religion. If religion comforts us in our emptiness, then whatever offers comfort is true . If our religion springs from nothing but our own mind, then the quest for religious truth has suffered quite a blow. But Christianity claims to be objectively true. These are our times. We must know them; we must know the signs of the times. Yet above all, we must know Jesus who gave the most important signs. His signs showed his compassion, his generosity, His love for all people. In our time, let us be faithful to Him personally and let us faithfully strive to convey His truth to our age.
Rick Worthy,DM
Rick Worthy,DM
No comments:
Post a Comment