Matthew 16:2

KJV

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the sky is red.

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} He answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto them {G846}, When it is {G1096} evening {G3798}, ye say {G3004}, It will be fair weather {G2105}: for {G1063} the sky {G3772} is red {G4449}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But his response was, "When it is evening, you say, `Fair weather ahead,' because the sky is red;

Berean Standard Bible

But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’

American Standard Version

But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 16:2, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees who demand a miraculous sign from heaven. He challenges their spiritual inconsistency by pointing out their ability to interpret natural weather signs—predicting fair weather from a red evening sky—while simultaneously failing to discern the profound spiritual "signs of the times" evident in His own ministry and person. This exchange highlights their spiritual blindness and hypocrisy, underscoring the readily available evidence of God's kingdom already present among them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a direct confrontation where the Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus, "tempting him, desiring that he would shew them a sign from heaven" ([Matthew 16:1](/matthew/16-1 "Matthew 16:1 - Pharisees and Sadducees Demand a Sign")). Jesus's response in verse 2, and the subsequent verses, is a sharp rebuke of their spiritual dullness. Rather than providing the spectacle they sought, He uses a common, everyday observation to expose their hypocrisy and inability to recognize the clear, ongoing manifestations of God's kingdom through His miracles, teachings, and very presence. This passage serves as a pivotal moment, highlighting the escalating tension between Jesus and the religious establishment, who consistently missed the spiritual reality unfolding before their eyes.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ability to predict weather patterns was crucial in ancient agrarian societies, where livelihoods depended on understanding natural phenomena. The proverb "When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red" was a widely recognized and practical piece of folk wisdom, akin to the modern "Red sky at night, sailor's delight." This observation was based on the scattering of light by dust particles in the atmosphere; a red sunset often indicated clear air to the west (where the sun sets), suggesting good weather approaching from that direction. The Pharisees and Sadducees, as leaders in a society deeply connected to the land, would have been intimately familiar with such signs. Jesus leverages this common knowledge to draw a parallel to their spiritual discernment, or lack thereof, regarding the far more significant "signs of the times" related to the arrival of the Messiah and the kingdom of God.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Spiritual Blindness vs. Natural Discernment**. Jesus exposes the irony that those who claimed spiritual authority were adept at interpreting mundane natural signs but utterly incapable of discerning the profound spiritual realities of His ministry, which was replete with signs of the Messiah's advent (e.g., [Matthew 11:4-5](/matthew/11-4-5 "Matthew 11:4-5 - The Works of Christ as Signs")). Secondly, it highlights the **Availability of Signs**. The religious leaders' demand for a sign was not due to a lack of evidence, but a willful refusal to acknowledge the overwhelming proof already present in Jesus's words and deeds. His miracles, teachings, and the very fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies were the ultimate signs of God's kingdom breaking into the world (as seen throughout [Matthew's Gospel](/matthew/1 "The Gospel According to Matthew")). Finally, the passage exposes the **Hypocrisy** of the religious leaders, who sought external validation while their hearts remained hardened to the truth, preferring to test Jesus rather than humbly receive His message. This spiritual dullness is a recurring motif in Jesus's interactions with them, as further elaborated in [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Pharisees").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** G611. This word signifies "to respond" or "to begin to speak where an address is expected." In this context, it implies Jesus's deliberate and authoritative reply to the challenge posed by the Pharisees and Sadducees. It's not a casual comment but a pointed counter-argument to their demand for a sign.
* **fair weather (Greek, _eudía'_):** G2105. This noun literally means "a clear sky" or "fine weather." It encapsulates the common understanding of a favorable atmospheric condition, which the people could reliably predict based on the observation of the sky's color. Jesus uses this precise term to refer to the natural phenomenon they easily understood.
* **red (Greek, _pyrrházō'_):** G4449. This verb means "to redden" or "to be red" (intransitively). It describes the specific visual cue—the reddish hue of the sky at sunset—that served as the basis for their weather prediction. The vividness of the color is key to the proverb's effectiveness and Jesus's analogy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He answered and said unto them":** This phrase establishes Jesus's direct engagement with the Pharisees and Sadducees, indicating that His subsequent words are a deliberate and pointed response to their demand for a sign. It sets the stage for a teaching moment that exposes their spiritual shortcomings.
* **"When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather:":** Jesus references a common, practical observation. People in His day, and even today, could look at the sky in the evening and make a reliable prediction about the next day's weather. This highlights their natural, worldly discernment, which is keen and accurate in practical matters.
* **"for the sky is red.":** This clause provides the specific reason for their prediction. The red hue of the evening sky was the universally understood sign indicating clear weather for the following day. It underscores the simplicity and accessibility of this natural sign, contrasting it with the spiritual signs they failed to perceive.

#### Literary Devices
Jesus employs several literary devices in this verse. The primary device is **Analogy**, where He draws a direct comparison between the ability to discern natural weather patterns and the inability to discern spiritual "signs of the times." He uses a common, well-understood proverb ("red sky at night") to highlight their spiritual blindness. This creates a powerful **Irony**: those who are supposed to be spiritual guides are shown to be adept at predicting the weather but utterly inept at recognizing the presence of God's kingdom. The use of a **Proverbial Wisdom** (the weather saying) makes His point relatable and undeniable to His audience, setting up the subsequent rebuke in [Matthew 16:3](/matthew/16-3 "Matthew 16:3 - Discerning the Signs of the Times"). The structure of His statement also functions as a **Rhetorical Question** (implied in the broader context of [Matthew 16:3](/matthew/16-3 "Why Can't You Discern the Times?")), challenging their inconsistency.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly addresses the human capacity for discernment, distinguishing between practical, worldly insight and spiritual understanding. Jesus highlights a critical theological truth: God provides ample evidence of His presence and activity, but human spiritual blindness, often rooted in unbelief or a hardened heart, prevents recognition. The religious leaders' demand for a sign was not a genuine search for truth but a test, revealing their unwillingness to accept Jesus on His own terms despite the overwhelming "signs" already manifest in His ministry. Their spiritual dullness serves as a cautionary tale against intellectual pride and the danger of missing God's ongoing revelation because one is looking for something other than what He has already provided.

* [Luke 12:54-56](/luke/12-54-56 "Luke 12:54-56 - Discerning the Weather, Not the Times")
* [John 5:39-40](/john/5-39-40 "John 5:39-40 - Searching Scriptures, Rejecting Christ")
* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Prophecy of Spiritual Blindness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 16:2 serves as a timeless mirror for believers, prompting us to examine the depth and authenticity of our own spiritual discernment. Are we, like the Pharisees and Sadducees, quick to understand the patterns and demands of the secular world, yet slow to perceive the subtle, yet profound, workings of God in our lives and in the broader sweep of history? This verse challenges us to cultivate a spiritual sensitivity that goes beyond superficial observation, enabling us to recognize God's voice, His will, and the "signs of the times" as He continues to unfold His redemptive plan. It warns against spiritual apathy and the dangerous complacency that can lead us to dismiss or demand new, spectacular evidences of God, rather than humbly engaging with the revelation He has already provided in His Word, through His Spirit, and in the person of Jesus Christ. Our prayer should be for eyes to see and ears to hear, so that we might not miss the divine activity amidst the mundane.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I quick to discern natural or worldly patterns, but slow to recognize God's presence or leading?**
* **What "signs" of God's work am I potentially overlooking in my daily life or in the world around me?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper spiritual discernment that moves beyond superficial observation to genuinely perceive God's truth?**
* **Am I ever guilty of demanding a "sign" from God when He has already provided ample evidence of His character and will?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus refuse to give the Pharisees and Sadducees the "sign from heaven" they demanded?**

Answer: Jesus refused to give them a specific "sign from heaven" because their request was not born out of genuine faith or a sincere desire for truth, but rather out of a desire to test Him and trap Him. As [Matthew 16:1](/matthew/16-1 "Matthew 16:1 - Pharisees and Sadducees Tempt Jesus") states, they were "tempting him." Jesus had already performed countless miracles and taught with unparalleled authority, which were more than sufficient "signs" for anyone with an open heart. He knew that no external sign, however spectacular, would convince those whose hearts were hardened by unbelief and pride. Instead of a sign from heaven, He later referred to the "sign of the prophet Jonah" ([Matthew 16:4](/matthew/16-4 "Matthew 16:4 - The Sign of Jonah")), which pointed to His death, burial, and resurrection as the ultimate and most profound sign of His divine authority and the truth of His message. This sign, unlike a mere spectacle, required faith and repentance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Matthew 16:2 directly addresses the spiritual blindness of Jesus's contemporaries, it implicitly points to Christ as the ultimate and sufficient "sign" of God's presence and kingdom. The Pharisees and Sadducees were looking for a spectacular, external display, yet the very Son of God stood before them, embodying the fullness of divine revelation. Jesus's life, teachings, miracles, and ultimately His death and resurrection, were the most profound "signs of the times" that God would ever give. He is the "light of the world" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")), the fulfillment of all prophecy, and the visible image of the invisible God ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God")). For those with spiritual eyes to see, as granted by the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 2:14](/1_corinthians/2-14 "1 Corinthians 2:14 - The Natural Man Cannot Understand")), Christ Himself is the undeniable evidence of God's redemptive work. He is the "way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")), making any further external sign redundant for those who truly seek God. His coming marked the dawn of the new covenant, a spiritual reality far more significant than any atmospheric phenomenon.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 12:54

¶ And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

Luke 12:56

[Ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?