Signs of the Times

Matthew 16: Turning Point (1)

Pray Psalm 12.1, 2.
Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Sing Psalm 12.1, 2.
Hamburg: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Help, LORD! The godly cease to be! They who believe in Christ are few.
Falsely the wicked confidently flatter, deceive, and mock what is true.

Read and meditate on Matthew 16.1-4.
Who refuses to believe apart from “signs”? Why is this wrong?

Prepare.
1. For what did the Pharisees and Sadducees ask? What do you suppose they had in mind?

2. What “sign” did Jesus say He would give them?

Meditate.
This chapter marks a kind of turning point, since from this point forward, Jesus can be seen to be focusing forward, toward the finishing of one stage of His work, and the beginning of the next.

The Pharisees and Sadducees asked for a “sign from heaven.” They were always asking for a sign, trying to make Jesus jump at their bidding (cf. Matt. 12.38). This is false thinking on full display: “I won’t believe unless You conform Your ways to my desires and my way of thinking!” It’s easy to fall into this snare and not even know it.

Jesus reviled them as “Hypocrites!” We recall from chapter 15 that a hypocrite is one who professes to believe in God but has no heart for Him. To the hypocrite, God is only Someone to use, not Someone to love and serve (see on, vv. 24-28). The religious leaders had enough common sense to read the signs of the weather, but then the weather didn’t demand anything unreasonable of them (bring an umbrella, or put on some sunscreen). The signs Jesus was giving, on the other hand, made serious demands: set aside your cherished traditions, repent of your pious posturing, lay down your life, and seek the Kingdom of God rather than the favor of Caesar. 

They could not read the signs Jesus was performing because they would not read them as they were intended. They were so used to making religion work for them that they were not prepared to deny themselves and their selfish priorities, join the yoke with Jesus, and learn of Him to be meek, mild, and truly righteous.

To the masses, the Pharisees and Sadducees looked like the real deal. But they were hypocrites. Those who followed Jesus, marveled at Him, and glorified God, they were the real deal. Then and now.

Jesus would give them a powerful sign in due course—the sign of Jonah: three days in the earth, then rising from the dead (cf. Matt. 12.38-40). But they would not believe that sign, either.

Do we?

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The Pharisees and Sadducees would have done well to remember the saga of Dagon,
whilst asking belligerently for a sign. 

The Philistines were looking for a sign to prove their strength and prowess, 
and here’s how that went for them:
“Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.”
Their first big mistake.
“When the Philistines took the ark of God, 
they brought it into the house of Dagon [one of their idols]
and set it by Dagon.”
Their second mistake. 
“And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, 
there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.” 
Message learned? No, there’s more.
“So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.” 
Third mistake’s the charm? Will they never learn? 
“And when they arose early the next morning, 
there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD.”
Same result; but with additional mayhem. 
“The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold;
only Dagon’s torso was left of it.”
Surely the lesson was learnt this time? Nope. 
“Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house 
tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day” (1 Sam. 5.1-5).
Well clearly, problem solved. They continued to worship a dismembered idol;
but fervently revered the place where he was broken down. Makes perfect sense.

As disastrously silly as that story is, are we ever like that?
Are we looking for a sign from God to show His mighty power?
Do we ever wonder what His will is for us, when it’s clearly written in His Word?
Have we ever thought it was OK to maybe expediently fudge the line of His Law?
Are we putting Him up against false idols for comparison?
Maybe asking questions like: What’s more fun? This thing? Or serving God?

God was clear in answering the Philistine’s unspoken request for a sign—Dagon went down.
Jesus was also clear regarding the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ demand for a sign—harping hypocrites.
Should we put forward a similar request—our answer will be similar.

Much better, then, to wholeheartedly follow Him. 
No questions asked. No comparisons made.
No signs requested or required. 
The only necessity? 
A correct understanding of the Kingdom and our requisite work within it.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; 
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, 
Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2.20).

Don’t ever ask for a sign; and never mistake a “broken Dagon” for real Life (Jn. 10.10).

Reflect.
1. What might be some examples of “idols” people use to prop up their lives?

2. Why did Jesus say that the Sadducees and Pharisees were hypocrites? How can we keep from becoming like them?

3. How should we respond each day to “the sign of the prophet Jonah”?

[The Pharisees and Sadducees] 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. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 16.1-4

Pray Psalm 12.3-8.
Pray for people you know who are so ensnared in the lie that they cannot see the truth that is in Jesus. Ask the Lord for an opportunity to share Jesus with someone today.

Sing Psalm 12.3-8.
Hamburg: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Stop, LORD, the lips that utter lies, all those who speak with boastful pride,
who say, “Our own lips we will prize; no lord will ever us override!”

Rise up, O LORD, and rescue all the poor and those so sorely distressed.
Give them the safety for which they call; grant that they be no more oppressed.

Your words are pure and proven true, like silver seven times refined.
You will preserve Your Word ever new, and keep the heart to You inclined.

Proudly the wicked strut and stand; Your indignation builds on high.
Men may exalt their wicked plans, but You will judge them by and by.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

We invite you to join us in ReThinking Church. We explain further at our ReThinking Church page, here.

Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter begins a new series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column considers questions all church leaders must address. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.