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Explanation for:
Matthew
16
:
3
And in the morning: Today there will be a storm, for the sky is red and lowering. You know then how to discern the face of the sky: and can you not know the signs of the times?
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In contrast, as foretold by the prophets, the scribes and Pharisees, regarded as instructors of the law, were unable to comprehend the arrival of the Redeemer."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"What is Christ's response to this? You can discern the conditions of the sky, yet you fail to perceive the signs of the time. Observe the humility and grace in His response. He did not merely deny them as He had previously, nor did He say, “It will not be given to him” (Matthew 12:39); rather, He reveals the reason for His refusal, even though they were not inquiring to learn. What is the explanation? He states that, just as there are different indicators of poor weather in heaven, there are also different signs for earthly conditions. No one, upon seeing ominous signs, expects fair weather, nor should anyone anticipate storms during clear skies; similarly, we must evaluate Him in this context. There exists a specific time for His initial coming and a separate time for His future return. The current necessity calls for earthly signs, while the heavenly signs are reserved for a later moment. At this time, I have come as a healer; in the future, I will return as a judge. I have come now to seek the lost, but I will return to demand accountability. Thus, I come in humility, yet I will one day return in glory: the skies will be covered, the sun will be concealed, and the moon's light will be withheld; then the celestial forces will tremble, and the manifestation of My return will be as sudden as lightning, visible to all. However, this is not the time for such signs: I have come to endure suffering and to experience profound affliction. Have you not heard the prophet say, “He shall not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor make it heard in the street” (Isaiah 42:2)? And from another: “It will descend like rain on the fleece” (Psalm 71:6)? If you refer to the signs from the time of Pharaoh, those were essential then, as it was necessary to confront the enemy. Yet, when He comes to His friends, such grand displays are unnecessary. Why should I perform astonishing signs when there is a lack of faith in the smaller ones? I term them small in appearance because their inner significance and power far surpass the former. Indeed, what comparison exists to the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, the expulsion of demons, the healing of the sick, or in summary, the complete restoration of all things?"},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He challenges them with a probing question, labeling them as hypocrites, and states: \\"Just as certain atmospheric phenomena indicate upcoming storms while others signal clear skies, no one would expect fair weather upon witnessing a stormy sign. Likewise, no one would anticipate a storm when observing signs of clear conditions. In the same manner, my coming has two distinct times: the first and the second. The signs prevalent on earth are essential at this moment, while the celestial signs are designated for the time when the sun is darkened, the moon is eclipsed, and the cosmos undergoes transformation.\\""},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He referred to them as hypocrites, not merely for their contradictions in speech and thought, but also because they believed themselves to be wise while lacking true understanding. He pointed out, “You are able to interpret the appearance of the sky, recognizing when the weather will be fair or stormy, yet you fail to perceive the signs of the times. If you possessed true wisdom, you would acknowledge that the signs on earth pertain to the present age, while the omens in the heavens are associated with the culmination of time. At that point, the sun will be darkened, the moon will withhold its light, and the stars will fall from the heavens” (Matthew 24:29)."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following this miraculous event, the Lord promptly left that location and crossed the lake to its opposite shore, arriving in Magdala. There, He was confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees, who sought to test Him with a challenging request. As noted in Mark 8:10, 13, His stay was quite brief. He then returned to the sea. After a brief period spent in the wilderness—evidenced by the disciples’ belief that they had not brought the loaves—He reemerged in Bethsaida. The Pharisees demanded that He provide them with a sign from heaven to validate His divine commission. They dismissed the miracles and signs He had performed on earth as inadequate proof. The Lord responded, indicating that if they had been as vigilant in observing His works and the events surrounding Him as they were in noting the changes in weather, they would possess the discernment to recognize the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom and the impending judgment on their flawed generation. Therefore, the Lord declared that even this generation would be given a sign—the sign of Jonah the prophet."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"You are capable of discerning the signs of the sky, recognizing the changes in weather through familiar indicators. Yet, you fail to comprehend the signs of the times; the moral transitions that unfold before you are as evident as meteorological signals, yet you either overlook or refuse to acknowledge them. The signs of the times consist of extraordinary events that highlight the significance of particular periods in the moral realm, occurring under the unique guidance of Divine Providence. You inquire, as Christ might ask, for a heavenly sign to validate my Messiahship. Yet, countless signs surround you, which you struggle to interpret. Through these, you could recognize my identity with the same certainty that you ascertain the weather from the heavens. Witness the blind receiving sight, the deaf regaining hearing, the lame walking, the lepers being cleansed, the dead returning to life, and the gospel being proclaimed to the poor—all accomplished by my authority. Do these not serve as sufficient evidence for you to recognize the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom, with Him present among you? What further signs would you seek? Strive to comprehend what you observe and hear. Yet, you remain in ignorance of these signs, and this blindness is your own doing. St. Chrysostom elucidates this teaching, saying that just as one interprets weather signs—expecting foul conditions when noting ominous signals and anticipating fine weather when observing clear skies—so should you reason about me. The present moment of my arrival differs from what is to come. Earthly signs are necessary now, while heavenly signs will be reserved for another time. At this moment, I have come as a healer; in the future, I will return as a judge. Now I seek the lost, but I will one day demand accountability. My current coming is in humility and concealment; later, I shall return in majesty. I will cover the sky, obscure the sun, and dim the moon, and then the celestial powers will tremble. My second coming will be as a flash that illuminates all. However, this is not the appointed time for such signs, for I have come to endure death and to suffer great anguish.\\""},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Turning to those who questioned Him, He replied: In the evening, you say it will rain because the sky is red; in the morning, you claim it will not rain today because the sky is bright. When you see a cloud rise from the west, you instantly declare, ‘It will rain,’ and it does happen. And when a south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and indeed it is. Hypocrites! You are skilled at interpreting the appearance of the sky; you can discern the weather shifts by familiar signs in the heavens, yet you fail to perceive the signs of the times. These signs, which the Providence of God conspicuously presents at designated times to all who do not willfully shut their eyes, as you do to avoid acknowledging them—can you not recognize these signs? You can, but you choose not to! Consider this: the blind receive sight, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are resurrected, all through my power. Are these signs not enough evidence for you that the Kingdom of the Messiah has arrived, that He is truly among you? Yet, you are unwilling to comprehend these signs. Realize this: just as there are different signs for inclement weather and for a bucket, so too is the timing of my coming distinct, as is the time of my eventual return. Presently, signs on earth are necessary, while signs in heaven are reserved for a future moment. I have come now as a Healer, but later I will reveal myself as a Judge; at this moment, my purpose is to seek the lost, but I will return to demand accountability. For this reason, I have come discreetly now, but my future coming will be in great glory: I will unroll the heavens like a scroll, veil the sun, and dim the moon’s light; then, the celestial forces will be shaken, and the manifestation of My return will be as sudden as lightning, visible to all. However, this is not the time for such signs, for I have come to face death and endure the utmost humiliation."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Understanding their deceitful intentions, Jesus gazed at them with sorrow, exhaling deeply, and reflected, 'Why does this generation demand a sign? In that era, there were many remarkable signs: the times of Daniel had passed; the scepter had left the lineage of Judah; the Jewish people were under the rule of a Gentile king and were longing for the promised Redeemer; John had come in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for the Lord; Jesus manifested Himself and through His deeds accomplished everything that the prophets proclaimed concerning the Messiah. These are the indicators that should have revealed to those knowledgeable in the Scriptures that the moment had indeed arrived for the Messiah to appear! Yet, the Pharisees and Sadducees were so misled by their misguided perceptions of the Messiah that they became incapable of recognizing these signs of their time. Even though they typically evaluated future circumstances by observable signs, such as the weather, when they saw a red sky at dusk they would say: tomorrow will bring a storm, and in the morning, observing a purple sky, they would declare: today will be foul. Thus, they should have understood the omens indicating that the arrival of the Messiah was imminent, yet they stubbornly refused to acknowledge this truth. Hypocrites, Jesus remarked to them, you can interpret the appearance of the sky, yet you fail to discern the signs of the times. Then speaking to those nearby, not directly to the Pharisees and Sadducees, He declared: Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In response to the cunning demands of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he remarked that they would not require any signs, whether from the skies or the earth, if they had been as attentive to the miraculous happenings surrounding him as they were to the usual phenomena of nature. Additionally, the seasons of Salvation carry their own signs and significant meanings, much like the familiar shifts in the atmosphere recognized by all through experience. There is a destined moment for a sign from above—the time of the second coming, when heavenly powers will be shaken, and the moon will cease to shine; the period of the first coming does not possess such indicators. In the evening, one may say, The bucket, the sky grows dim, and in the morning, Today is winter, the sky turns dark. You can deduce the signs from the heavens, yet you cannot manipulate the signs of the times."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When Jesus arrived at the western shore of the sea, He was approached by the Pharisees and Sadducees, who engaged Him in argument. These two groups, particularly noted in Matthew 16:1, represented two faithfully antagonistic sects. United in their common fear of losing their influence and power, they allied against Jesus, demonstrating their hostility in their malicious schemes, even plotting His destruction. The specifics of their contention with Christ remain unclear in the Gospel accounts, but they ultimately united in demanding a sign from heaven, a miraculous phenomenon that would affirm His identity as the Messiah.\\n\\nIn response to their request, the Lord referred them to the prophet Jonah, delivering a significant sign that they would come to understand later. He emphasized that the signs of the times are enough for those genuinely seeking the truth, underscoring the remarkable occurrences demonstrated through His ministry, particularly His miracles.\\n\\nMark’s account of this interaction is notably more concise than Matthew’s and does not include the explanation regarding Jonah, nor does it convey the inability of the questioners to perceive the signs of the times. However, Mark does capture a significant detail: Jesus sighed deeply in responding to the demand for a sign. He saw the insincerity behind their request, recognizing the hardness of their hearts, which rendered them indifferent to any sign that could lead them to salvation. This revelation caused Him to feel compassion for the lost souls before Him.\\n\\nThe malicious inquiries from the Pharisees and Sadducees, who would later play a pivotal role in His suffering, may have prompted Jesus to reflect on the final moments of His earthly ministry. His deep sigh, resonating with the anguish of the trials He would soon endure—culminating in the Garden of Gethsemane—was a profound expression of sorrow and the heavy burden He was destined to bear."}]}
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