Matthew 12:38

The Sign of Jonah

12:38 Then some of the experts in the law ¹  along with some Pharisees ²  answered him, ³  “Teacher, we want to see a sign ⁴  from you.”

Matthew 16:1

The Demand for a Sign

16:1 Now when the Pharisees ⁵  and Sadducees ⁶  came to test Jesus, ⁷  they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ⁸ 

Matthew 24:24

24:24 For false messiahs ⁹  and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

[12:38]  ¹ tn Or “Then some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[12:38]  ² tn Grk “and Pharisees.” The word “some” before “Pharisees” has been supplied for clarification.

[12:38]  ³ tn Grk “answered him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant, but the syntax of the sentence was changed to conform to English style.

[12:38]  ⁴ sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.

[16:1]  ⁵ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[16:1]  ⁶ sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.

[16:1]  ⁷ tn The object of the participle πειράζοντες (peirazontes) is not given in the Greek text but has been supplied here for clarity.

[16:1]  ⁸ sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.

[24:24]  ⁹ tn Or “false christs”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”