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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 16:1-4

We have here Christ's discourse with the Pharisees and Sadducees, men at variance among themselves, as appears Acts 23:7, 8, and yet unanimous in their opposition to Christ; because his doctrine did equally overthrow the errors and heresies of the Sadducees, who denied the existence of spirits and a future state; and the pride, tyranny, and hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were the great imposters of the traditions of the elders. Christ and Christianity meet with opposition on all hands.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 16:1-4

16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, trying to put him to the test, and asked him to show them a sign from Heaven. He answered them: "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fine weather, because the sky is red.' And early in the morning you say, 'It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. An evil and apostate generation seeks for a sign. No sign will be given to it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:3

And in the morning, it will be foul weather today ,.... When you rise in the morning, and take a survey of the heavens, it is a very usual thing with you to say, it is like to be windy or rainy weather today, for the sky is red and lowring ; which shows, that the clouds are so thick that the sun cannot pierce through them, and its face is not seen; so that it may be reasonably concluded they will issue in rain, or wind, or both. O ye hypocrites . The Vulgate Latin, and Munster's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:3

The sky is red and lowering - The signs of fair and foul weather were observed in a similar manner among the Romans, and indeed among most other people. Many treatises have been written on the subject: thus a poet: - Caeruleus pluviam denunciant, Igneus euros Sin Maculae incipient Rutilo immiscerier Igni, Omnia tunc pariter Vento Nimbisque videbis read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:3

Verse 3 3.Hypocrites, you can judge. He calls them hypocrites, because they pretend to ask that which, if it were exhibited to them, they are resolved not to observe. The same reproof applies nearly to the whole world; for men direct their ingenuity, and apply their senses, to immediate advantage; and therefore there is scarcely any man who is not sufficiently well qualified in this respect, or at least who is not tolerably acquainted with the means of gaining his object. How comes it then that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:1-4

The Pharisees and Sadducees desire a sign. ( Mark 8:11-13 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:1-4

The signs of the Messiah. Coming into the borders of Magadan, after the miracles of the mountain in which he healed all manner of diseases, and miraculously feasted about eight thousand persons, Jesus encountered the Pharisees and Sadducees, who, sinking their sectarian differences for the time, agreed to tempt or test him by demanding a special sign of his Messiahship. Jesus declined to gratify them in this, appealing to the signs of the times which should be sufficient for them, and giving... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:1-12

The visit to Galilee. I. THE LORD CROSSES THE LAKE TO THE WESTERN SHORE . 1 . He dismisses the multitude. They went away quietly, it seems. There was no need now to constrain the disciples to depart first. The people did not attempt to take the Lord by force to make him a King. They were more docile than the five thousand had been. They were full of thankfulness. They glorified the God of Israel. But they were simple-hearted people; they did not regard themselves as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:3

It will be foul weather today more tersely in the Greek, Today a storm! Such prognostications are found among all peoples. Many examples are collected by Wetstein. Lowring ( στυγνάζων ); a word applied to the expression of the countenance, and therefore applicable, by prosopopceia, to the look of the sky. Fillion quotes Aulus Gellius, Matthew 13:29 , "Non solum in hominum corporibus, sed etiam in rerum cujusquemodi aliarum facies dicitur. Nam montis et coeli et maris facies, si... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 16:1-4

See also Mark 8:11-12.The Pharisees also, and the Sadducees - See the notes at Matthew 3:7.Tempting - That is, trying him - feigning a desire to see evidence that he was the Messiah, but with a real desire to see him make the attempt to work a miracle and fail, so that they might betray him and ruin him.A sign from heaven - Some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets; and they supposed, if he was the Messiah, that his miracles would not all be confined... read more

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