Luke 11:16 kjv
And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:16 nkjv
Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:16 niv
Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:16 esv
while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:16 nlt
Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
Luke 11 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 12:38 | Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.” | Direct parallel; same demand for a sign. |
| Matt 16:1 | The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. | Direct parallel; recurring demand from religious leaders. |
| Mark 8:11 | The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. | Direct parallel; highlights their argumentative and testing nature. |
| Luke 11:29 | ...“This is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.” | Jesus' direct response to this demand; rebuke for seeking signs. |
| Jn 2:18 | ...“What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?” | Early Jewish demand for a sign from Jesus after cleansing the temple. |
| Jn 4:48 | Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” | Jesus noting the human tendency to require physical proof. |
| Jn 6:30 | They said therefore to Him, “What sign do You perform then, that we may see and believe You?” | After multiplying loaves, people still seek further proof. |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, | Illustrates a cultural characteristic of Jews seeking miraculous proofs. |
| Deut 6:16 | You shall not test the LORD your God as you tested Him in Massah. | Old Testament principle against putting God to the test. |
| Luke 4:12 | And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” | Jesus refusing Satan's temptation, aligning with Deut 6:16. |
| Deut 13:1-3 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder... but the sign or the wonder does not come to pass... you shall not listen to the words of that prophet... | Old Testament caution against false prophets using signs. |
| Matt 24:24 | For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. | Warning about deceptive signs by false claimants. |
| Jn 12:37 | But though He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him. | The consequence of spiritual blindness; signs alone are insufficient for belief. |
| Luke 16:31 | But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ | People unwilling to believe will reject even the ultimate sign (resurrection). |
| Ps 78:41 | Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. | Israel's repeated tendency to test God in the wilderness. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. | God's revelation through creation is already sufficient. |
| Isa 7:10-12 | Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” | Example of God offering a sign, contrasting with a hostile demand for one. |
| Heb 3:12-19 | Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God... | The danger of unbelief and hardness of heart, often seen in those who demand signs. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth... | The ultimate authority of Jesus is heavenly, though not recognized by the sign-seekers. |
| 2 Thess 2:9-12 | The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders... | Signs are not always proof of divine authority, but can be instruments of deception. |
Luke 11 verses
Luke 11 16 Meaning
Luke 11:16 describes how some individuals, acting with malicious intent, sought to test Jesus by demanding a miraculous sign directly from heaven. This request was not borne out of a genuine desire for understanding or belief, but rather a skeptical challenge designed to trap or discredit Him, following their previous accusations regarding the source of His power in casting out demons. They craved an undeniable, celestial validation, implying dissatisfaction with the profound miracles He had already performed on earth.
Luke 11 16 Context
Luke 11:16 follows immediately after Jesus has cast out a demon from a mute man, enabling him to speak (Luke 11:14). Instead of acknowledging God's power, some in the crowd accuse Jesus of performing this miracle by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons (Luke 11:15). In this charged atmosphere, "others" (possibly a segment of the same accusers or a new group joining their opposition) demand a distinct "sign from heaven." This suggests a desire for an irrefutable, divinely-certified display of power that could not be attributed to earthly sources or demonic influence. This demand underscores their spiritual blindness, skepticism, and outright rejection of Jesus' already evident divine authority through His numerous works of healing and deliverance. They wanted a show rather than believing the living Word before them.
Luke 11 16 Word analysis
- And (Kai): A conjunction, connecting this event to the preceding verses (especially Luke 11:14-15), implying a continuation of opposition to Jesus' ministry following the accusation of Beelzebul.
- others (heteroi): Refers to other people, or perhaps a different kind of person/faction, not necessarily entirely distinct from the accusers of verse 15, but specifically noted for this particular action. It points to a divided response to Jesus.
- tempting (peirazontes): (Greek: peirázō). This significant participle means to test, try, prove. Here, it carries a negative connotation, indicating a hostile or malicious attempt to entrap Jesus, to put Him to the test in a way designed to find fault, expose a weakness, or force Him to do something against His divine will or timing. It was not a genuine inquiry for truth.
- him (auton): Refers directly to Jesus, the object of their testing and demands.
- sought (ezētoun): (Greek: zētéō, in imperfect tense). The imperfect tense suggests a continuous, persistent, or repeated seeking, indicating their stubborn and unyielding demand rather than a one-time request.
- of him (par' autou): Literally "from beside Him" or "from Him," indicating the source from whom they demanded this sign.
- a sign (sēmeion): (Greek: sēmeion). A distinguishing mark, token, or miraculous proof, especially one that attests to divine authority or presence. In Jewish tradition, signs were often sought from prophets to authenticate their message or confirm divine intervention.
- from heaven (ex ouranou): (Greek: ek ouranoû). This specifies the origin of the desired sign. It wasn't just any sign, but one directly from God's dwelling place, celestial and irrefutable, contrasting with Jesus' earthly miracles that they dismissed as demonic. This implied a public, cosmic validation they thought would be indisputable, aiming to overcome their (or others') skepticism regarding Jesus' terrestrial works.
Luke 11 16 Bonus section
The request for "a sign from heaven" subtly carries polemic undertones. It implicitly challenges the authenticity of Jesus' earthly miracles, especially those casting out demons, by implying they lacked indisputable divine origin or could even be demonically inspired. By asking for a celestial sign, the demanders positioned themselves as arbiters of true divine revelation, suggesting that God's actions must conform to their pre-conceived notions of spectacle and overt heavenly display rather than the nuanced, often humble, workings of Jesus. This also reveals a misapplication of Old Testament expectations; while God did give signs, they were typically given on His terms, not as a challenge from cynical unbelievers. The true "sign from heaven" for this generation, as Jesus later declared (Luke 11:29), would be the "sign of Jonah"—His death, burial, and resurrection, which they, in their continued unbelief, would also ultimately reject.
Luke 11 16 Commentary
Luke 11:16 encapsulates the persistent, often malicious, opposition Jesus faced despite His evident miracles. The demand for "a sign from heaven" following Jesus' exorcism (which was falsely attributed to Beelzebul) reveals a deep-seated spiritual perversion. These individuals were not seeking genuine proof for belief; rather, their motive was "tempting" (peirazontes) — an effort to trap Jesus, either by making Him perform a sign that would seem illegitimate, or by His refusal to perform a sign and thus appear to lack divine power. They discounted His earthly works, demonstrating an ingrained hardness of heart that refused to recognize God's active presence in their midst. This desire for a spectacular celestial display over and above the humble, tangible acts of love and power Jesus already demonstrated indicates their inability to discern God's Spirit and His new kingdom manifesting right before them. Ultimately, they demanded outward validation when inward spiritual repentance and faith were truly required. Their spiritual blindness left them incapable of seeing the greatest sign: God's Son living and working among them.