A Sign from Heaven - Matthew 16:1-4

Introduction: Are people looking for a sign today? I believe they are. People are into signs. Why, even in our text we have two religious groups, the Pharisees and the Sadducees requesting Jesus to provide them with a sign from heaven.

Throughout history, people have looked to various signs to predict the future or explain events:

   Two men of the past were Nostradamus (1500s) and the Bulgarian seer Baba Vanga both predicted that the world could end in 2025. They made predictions that a conflict in Europe would lead to widespread instability and the “destruction of the world as we know it”. They made predictions that included wars, plagues, natural disasters, and political assassinations. Predictions were made that humans would make contact with aliens, and that there would be a “Martian war”.

   People today still read and study the predictions of those two men. In our time we have seen a host of predictions. Here are some that I remember:

Y2K (The Year 2000) – People feared a worldwide collapse of technology, believing planes would fall from the sky, the electrical grid would fail, and computers would shut down.

The Mayan Calendar – Many believed that December 21, 2012, marked the end of the world. Even Hollywood made a movie about it.

Planetary Alignments (2020) – Some thought unusual alignments of the planets would signal catastrophic events.

Nibiru Cataclysm (Planet X) – A conspiracy theory about a hidden planet destined to collide with Earth.

Climate Change – Some scientists and politicians claim it poses an existential threat, predicting extreme scenarios. Al Gore once suggested there was a 75% chance the North Polar ice cap would disappear by 2016.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – The fear that super intelligent AI could one day threaten human existence.

Asteroid Impacts – Reports frequently warn of asteroids passing close to Earth, with some claiming an impact could bring about the end times.

   Yes, we live in a time where people want a sign and are seeking signs. There is a saying that goes like this: Seeing is believing. Have you ever heard that? However, God’s Kingdom is upside down. In God’s Kingdom, believing is seeing (See John 3:3). It is always FAITH first!

   As we return to our study in the Gospel of Matthew (The King and His Kingdom), we come to Matthew 16:1–4. Here we encounter a group of religious leaders who had seen miracle after miracle performed by Jesus but still demanded another sign. The Pharisees and Sadducees approached Jesus, not out of genuine faith or curiosity, but to test Him, exposing the hardness of their hearts.

   In the parallel passage found in Mark 8:8-13 we read,

   11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” 13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

   As I read this passage I noticed the following – The Pharisees came to “dispute” with Jesus, “testing Him”, and Jesus, well He just “sighed deeply”. It was like, here we go again.

   As we reflect on this passage, we’re reminded that the human heart is often resistant to the truth, even when it’s plainly revealed. The issue at hand wasn’t the lack of evidence but the unwillingness to accept it. D.A. Carson notes, “What they really wanted was not light but excuses for their darkness.”

  We explore this text not only to understand the religious leaders’ error, but to evaluate our own tendencies to seek “signs” while neglecting the deeper spiritual truths God has already revealed – all around us.

   So, what do we have in our text?

1. Show Us a Sign from Heaven - Matthew 16:1

   Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.

   The Pharisees and Sadducees were two opposing religious groups, and yet they dropped their differences to join forces to challenge Jesus. They came demanding a sign from heaven. The Greek word for sign here means “miracle, wonder, token”. Their request wasn’t sincere; it was a test. Their hearts were hardened, and no miraculous sign, no matter how spectacular, would have satisfied them.

· Matthew writes, “testing Him”.

· Mark writes, “testing Him.”

   Please hear me - Despite being surrounded by the evidence of God’s work in creation, millions of changed lives on every continent, and countless answered prayers, people all around the globe continue to demand proof of God’s existence. Perhaps you’ve encountered such individuals or even wrestled with the idea of seeing The Ultimate Sign.

   Already in Matthew 1-15 Jesus had…

Ö Healed the sick – Peter’s mother-in-law.

Ö Calmed storms – The winds and waves obeyed Jesus.

Ö Cast out demons – In the region of the Gergesenes.

Ö Fed thousands – Five thousand and later four thousand.

Ö Raised the dead – Jairus’ daughter.

   And yet these religious leaders remained spiritually blind.

   It would be to our advantage to take some time to reflect on the "signs" God has already provided in our lives, such as:

· Answered prayers

· Unexpected provisions

· Seeing God in creation

· The greatest sign – Our SALVATION in Christ!

   We should ask ourselves if we are open to recognizing His hand in all areas of our lives, or are we waiting for something extraordinary to validate our faith? Are we wanting a specific sign?

2. Discerning the Signs of the Times - Matthew 16:2-3

   2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

 We read in Luke 12:54-56,

  54 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

  Jesus rebuked their spiritual blindness by pointing to their ability to interpret the weather based on the color of the sky. While they could forecast earthly conditions, they failed to recognize the spiritual season unfolding all around them. They missed out what was happening at that moment.

   How many of us check a weather app or listen to a weather report before making plans, but fail to evaluate the spiritual climate around us? Consider the cultural signs around us—shifting values, increasing secularism, and global challenges. Are we discerning these signs in the light of God’s Word?

   Discerning the signs of the times as a Christian requires a combination of scriptural wisdom, prayer, and spiritual discernment. Again, look at the words of Jesus here in Matthew 16:3c,

   You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

   In the 1 Chronicles 12:32, we read about the sons of Issachar,

   Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

   These sons understood their times. They knew what was happening and what the events meant. They learned how to read the various events that were happening among them.

How To Discern the Signs of the Times?

1. Stay Grounded in Scripture – Colossians 2:7

   rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

The Word of God is the Christian’s ultimate source of truth, providing guidance on what to expect in the last days and how to live in uncertain times.

  Are you aware that there are three key Bible passages that teach about the last days - Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. In these chapters Jesus provides details about end-time signs, such as, wars, rumors of war, famines, earthquakes, deception, and persecution.

   When the Apostle Paul penned his second letter to Timothy, he wrote to him about the spiritual decline that would be evident in the last days (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5). We are living in a time when a Supreme Court Justice cannot even tell us what a woman is. We have people who are dissatisfied with their biological sex and want a sex change (hint – it’s not possible). Talk about deception – self-deception.

   There are two books within the Bible that we as believers should seek to get a good handle on, and they are Daniel and Revelation. One is an Old Testament Prophetic book, and the other is the only Prophetic book in the New Testament. These two books provide prophetic insights about global events and God’s ultimate plan throughout the ages.

Key Biblical Prophecies Involving Nations:

Israel – Central to biblical prophecy.

Iran (Persia) – Mentioned in Ezekiel 38 as a key player in the end times.

Russia (Gog & Magog) – Another major figure in prophecy.

China (Kings of the East) – Referenced in Revelation 16:12.

These nations dominate our news cycles today.

2. Pray for Spiritual Discernment – James 1:5

   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all.

   The half-brother of Jesus penned those words. There are times when we the people of God must ask for wisdom from above. How often? Like every day!

   There is NO WAY any one of us can know anything about the end times without the direct leading of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). We cannot have wisdom, understanding, or discernment regarding world events, cultural shifts, and personal decisions without being led by the Spirit of God. Each one of us must be Holy Spirit depended (Romans 8:14).

   As God people we need to pray more than we do. And we need to pray for a heart that is sensitive to God’s leading. We should desire not to be deceived. We should desire to understand our times.

   There are so many things happening on the world scene (Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, China) that we can talk about, and form opinions about, but before we do, we probably should seek the face of God for clarity and wisdom. Ask: What does the Bible teach? Then we must pray about what we are seeing unfold before our eyes. What is God up too? Seek to be in the know.

3. Watch for Spiritual & Moral Decline – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

   In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warns that in the last days, people will become more self-centered, rejecting truth and embracing deception.

The rise of lawlessness, corruption, and immorality indicates a world turning away from God.

Increased hostility toward Christianity and biblical values is another sign of the times.

Confusion about truth and identity (Isaiah 5:20 – calling evil good and good evil) is becoming more evident.

   As a follower of Jesus Christ, you must put a stake in the ground that you will not stray from biblical truth, even when society moves away from it. Deconstructionism is NOT an option for you. Say to yourself – I am a BELIEVER!

4. Pay Attention to Global Events – Matthew 24:6-8

   I shared with you earlier that Jesus warned of wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters, and pandemics as signs, or birth pains leading to His glorious return in Matthew 24:6-8.

The Middle East, Israel, and global tensions often align with biblical prophecy.

The rise of one-world systems (economy, government, religion) signal end-time developments.

Technological advancements like AI, digital currency, and surveillance could play a role in prophecy (Revelation 13).

   Christians must be students of world events. We must put on what we call biblical world-view glasses and look at all things through the lens of Scripture.

  Warning: Don’t believe everything you hear from television preachers, or even preachers on the world-wide web. You and I must study Scripture for ourselves.

5. Test Everything—Avoid Deception – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

   Test all things; hold fast to what is good.

   In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus warned about false teachers, false prophets, and the rise of deception.

Many people twist scripture to fit their own agenda. Context is key to Bible interpretation. It has been said, “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense seek no other sense.”

Not every "sign" is from God—some are distractions or false warnings.

Beware of sensationalism—not every event signals the “final sign.”

If it is not in Scripture squelch it.

   One of the marks of a mature believer is that they compare Scripture with Scripture. They also Search the Scriptureto see if these things are so – be a Berean (Acts 17:11). Test all teachings, prophecies, and signs against the Bible. If they contradict God’s Word, they are not from Him.

6. Live with Hope, Not Fear – Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:7

   Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

   2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

   The world may be filled with uncertainty, but Christians are called to live with faith, hope, and readiness.

   In Luke 21:28, Jesus said,

   When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

   Here is something to put into practice – instead of being consumed by fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) about world events, focus in on your personal relationship with Jesus and fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We ought to be concerned about taking as many people as possible with us to heaven.  

   The signs of the times are becoming clearer, but God calls us to be watchful, wise, and faithful rather than fearful or obsessed with predictions. The best way to discern the times is to stay anchored in God’s Word, prayer, and obedience to His will. Spend time in prayer and Scripture to align your understanding of current events with God’s eternal perspective.

3. A Wicked and Adulterous Generation Seeks a Sign - Matthew 16:4

   A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

   Jesus condemned the Pharisees and the Sadducees desire for a sign, calling them a “wicked and adulterous generation.” Their hearts were far from God, and their request reflected their unbelief. The only sign Jesus promised was the sign of Jonah—a prophetic reference to His death, burial, and resurrection. But did they get it? (See Matthew 12:40; John 2:18-22). They didn’t.

   The resurrection of Jesus remains the ultimate sign of God’s love and power. Let this truth anchor your faith, especially when you’re tempted to demand additional signs or evidence.

Conclusion: The Pharisees and Sadducees stood face to face with the greatest sign the world would ever know—Jesus Himself—and yet, they missed it. Not because there weren’t enough miracles, but because their hearts were too hardened to see the truth standing before them.

   And what about us? Are we waiting for a sign when God has already given us everything we need? The evidence of His power is all around us—in the pages of Scripture, in the testimony of transformed lives, and most of all, in the greatest sign of all: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

   The world is obsessed with predictions and signs—about war, disaster, and even the end of the world. But Jesus calls us to something greater than speculation—He calls us to faith. He calls us to open our eyes and discern the times, not with fear, but with hope.

So let me ask you:

Are you waiting for a sign before you fully surrender to Christ?

Are you delaying obedience, waiting for God to “prove” Himself to you?

Are you focused on worldly signs while missing the spiritual truths unfolding right in front of you?

   Church, we don’t need another sign—we need a Savior. And He has already come. His name is Jesus.

   So today, instead of seeking a sign, seek Him. Instead of looking for another miracle, trust in the One who has already conquered sin and death. Instead of being consumed by fear, live with confidence that your Redeemer lives, and He is coming again.

   The signs of the times are clear, but so is the solution: Jesus. Will you trust Him today?