Matthew 16 4

Matthew 16:4 kjv

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Matthew 16:4 nkjv

A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed.

Matthew 16:4 niv

A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

Matthew 16:4 esv

An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.

Matthew 16:4 nlt

Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. " Then Jesus left them and went away.

Matthew 16 verses

Matthew 16 4 Meaning

Jesus strongly rebukes the spiritual leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, labeling their generation as profoundly corrupt and spiritually unfaithful. Despite numerous miracles and teachings demonstrating His messianic identity, they continued to demand a spectacular sign from heaven to validate Him. Jesus declares that no such on-demand sign will be given to them, except for the "sign of Jonah," which specifically refers to His impending death, burial for three days, and triumphant resurrection. This highlights their profound spiritual blindness and the ultimate, undeniable truth revealed through Christ's resurrection.

Matthew 16 4 Context

This verse appears after a direct confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders—Pharisees and Sadducees—who approach Him to demand "a sign from heaven." This request immediately follows numerous profound miracles Jesus has performed, including feeding thousands and walking on water, demonstrating His divine authority and power. Their demand reveals not a genuine desire for truth, but a hardened, testing attitude, aimed at trapping or discrediting Him. Jesus then contrasts their ability to discern natural weather signs with their utter failure to understand the profound spiritual "signs of the times" evident in His very presence and ministry. Thus, Matthew 16:4 serves as a stern condemnation of their spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and resistance to the clear revelation of God through His Son. It sets a clear boundary against those who demand proofs outside of God's appointed means.

Matthew 16 4 Word analysis

• A wicked (πονηρά, ponēra): This term signifies intrinsic evil, moral baseness, and malevolence. It suggests an active, malicious opposition to what is good and divine. Here, it denotes the deep-seated spiritual corruption and ill will characterizing the religious leaders and the pervasive spirit of that generation, rather than mere error or ignorance.
• and adulterous (μοιχαλίς, moichalis): While literally meaning unfaithful in marriage, in biblical theology, especially prophetic tradition (e.g., in Hosea, Jeremiah), this word is powerfully used to describe spiritual infidelity to God. It refers to the breaking of the covenant relationship through idolatry, pursuing worldly desires, relying on human traditions, or seeking other "gods" (including self-righteousness or power) instead of the one true God. This generation, particularly its leaders, had betrayed their covenant commitment by rejecting God's ultimate revelation in Christ.
• generation (γενεά, genea): This refers to the people living during that specific epoch, particularly those contemporaries who were confronting Jesus and exhibited the traits of "wickedness and adultery." It encapsulates the prevailing moral and spiritual character of that era, marked by its resistance to God's ultimate manifestation in the Messiah.
• seeks for a sign: "Sign" (σημεῖον, sēmeion) implies a miraculous deed or supernatural phenomenon intended to authenticate a divine messenger or message. Their demand indicates an unfaithful heart that dismisses the abundant signs Jesus had already provided and attempts to dictate the terms of divine revelation, effectively testing God rather than seeking truth. It reveals a desire for sensational proof rather than humble faith.
• but no sign will be given to it: This is Jesus' unequivocal refusal to perform miracles on demand as a spectacle or test. It underlines God's sovereignty; He reveals Himself on His terms, not in response to human skepticism or challenge. It shows the futility of seeking external validation when internal spiritual opposition reigns.
• except the sign of Jonah: This specific, sole exception signifies the singular and ultimate proof that God would provide. It emphasizes that this sign would transcend any specific "from heaven" miracle they sought, providing absolute and undeniable validation of Christ's authority and mission through His suffering and resurrection.
• of Jonah: Refers directly to the Old Testament prophet Jonah. As elaborated in Matthew 12:40, the parallel is specifically between Jonah's three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish and Jesus' own period in the tomb before His resurrection. It points to a unique, miraculous deliverance and ultimate divine vindication.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• A wicked and adulterous generation: This phrase collectively condemns the pervasive spiritual state of Jesus' contemporaries, particularly the religious leadership. "Wicked" highlights their active rebellion and malice, while "adulterous" points to their profound covenant disloyalty and spiritual promiscuity, abandoning their relationship with God for human systems, traditions, or worldly power. It reveals that their moral failure was not merely ethical but deeply spiritual, stemming from a severed connection with divine truth.
• seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah: This phrase juxtaposes the futile demands of an unbelieving heart with God's sovereign, conclusive revelation. It shows that those who persist in doubt, despite abundant evidence, will not be appeased by more displays of power, but will receive the single, profound sign that encompasses God's ultimate plan of salvation and judgment—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. This statement signifies the end of a dispensation where constant external signs were granted; the greatest sign has now arrived.

Matthew 16 4 Bonus section

The request for a "sign from heaven" (Matt 16:1) by the Pharisees and Sadducees is significant. Unlike Jesus' earthly miracles of healing and casting out demons, they desired a cosmic or celestial demonstration, perhaps a thunderclap from a clear sky, an appearance of an angel, or a visible manifestation of divine glory. This suggests their skepticism stemmed from a belief that Jesus' miracles might be earthly deceptions or from an earthly, lesser power.

Moreover, the reference to "the signs of the times" (Matt 16:3) reveals the religious leaders' profound spiritual myopia. They were adept at interpreting weather patterns—"red and lowering sky"—but utterly incapable or unwilling to interpret the monumental historical and spiritual shifts occurring right before their eyes, marked by the presence and works of the Messiah. This failure of spiritual discernment underscored their wickedness and spiritual adultery.

The parallel "sign of Jonah" can also implicitly refer not only to Jonah's resurrection from the fish but also to his preaching of repentance to Nineveh, and their subsequent repentance (Luke 11:32). This further contrasts the Ninevites, who repented at Jonah's preaching, with Jesus' own generation, who largely failed to repent despite the greater truth proclaimed by the "greater than Jonah" (Matt 12:41). This aspect of the sign highlights God's universal call to repentance and judgment on those who reject it.

Matthew 16 4 Commentary

Jesus’ pronouncement in Matthew 16:4 is a stern and decisive indictment of the religious leadership and, by extension, the pervasive spiritual condition of that era. By calling them a "wicked and adulterous generation," Jesus highlights not just their moral failings, but their profound spiritual unfaithfulness to God, equating it with covenant breach. They sought sensational proofs "from heaven" not out of genuine humility or a desire to believe, but as a test, a demand stemming from deep-seated unbelief and hypocrisy. Their focus was on external showmanship, while they ignored the existing, living demonstration of God's power and presence in Jesus' ministry.

Jesus categorically refuses to indulge their demands for on-command signs, thereby emphasizing that divine revelation is given on God's terms, not man's. The "sign of Jonah" becomes the ultimate and non-negotiable proof. This sign is Christ’s three days in the grave, paralleling Jonah's time in the fish, culminating in His resurrection. This unique event—His triumph over death—would be the undeniable, yet to many, unseen or rejected, attestation of His identity and authority. The demand for other signs, post-resurrection, becomes an even greater act of spiritual rebellion. It signifies that faith is not a perpetual quest for validating signs, but an acceptance of the most profound spiritual truth revealed in the death and resurrection of God's Son. For those whose hearts are hardened, even the greatest miracle will not suffice.