38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
38 Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. "Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?"
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority."
161 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
161 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
161 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
161 Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them.
161 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
161 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
(Read Matthew 16:1-4)
The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct; yet they joined against Christ. But they desired a sign of their own choosing: they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. It is great hypocrisy, when we slight the signs of God's ordaining, to seek for signs of our own devising.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
18 The Jews then responded to him, "What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
18 So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"
18 But the Jews were upset. They asked, "What credentials can you present to justify this?"
18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?"
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, "What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."
(Read John 2:12-22)
The first public work in which we find Christ engaged, was driving from the temple the traders whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a market-place of its courts. Those now make God's house a house of merchandise, whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for love of gain. Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who demanded it, to prove his authority for so doing. He foretells his death by the Jews' malice, Destroy ye this temple; I will permit you to destroy it. He foretells his resurrection by his own power; In three days I will raise it up. Christ took again his own life. Men mistake by understanding that according to the letter, which the Scripture speaks by way of figure. When Jesus was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered he has said this. It helps much in understanding the Divine word, to observe the fulfilling of the Scriptures.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 12:38
Commentary on Matthew 12:38-45
(Read Matthew 12:38-45)
Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again. The Ninevites would shame the Jews for not repenting; the queen of Sheba, for not believing in Christ. And we have no such cares to hinder us, we come not to Christ upon such uncertainties. This parable represents the case of the Jewish church and nation. It is also applicable to all those who hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly converted. The unclean spirit leaves for a time, but when he returns, he finds Christ is not there to shut him out; the heart is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to comply with evil suggestions, and the man becomes a more decided enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residence of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by faith in Christ.