Matthew 16:4

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.

A wicked {G4190} and {G2532} adulterous {G3428} generation {G1074} seeketh after {G1934} a sign {G4592}; and {G2532} there shall no {G3756} sign {G4592} be given {G1325} unto it {G846}, but {G1508} the sign {G4592} of the prophet {G4396} Jonas {G2495}. And {G2532} he left {G2641} them {G846}, and departed {G565}.

A wicked and adulterous generation is asking for a sign? It will certainly not be given a sign -- except the sign of Yonah!" With that he left them and went off.

A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

Commentary

In Matthew 16:4, Jesus delivers a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders of His day, specifically the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were demanding a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority. This verse encapsulates a critical theme of spiritual discernment versus stubborn unbelief.

Context

This statement follows immediately after the Pharisees and Sadducees approached Jesus, "desiring that he would shew them a sign from heaven" (Matthew 16:1). Despite countless miracles Jesus had already performed—healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding thousands—they sought further, even greater, proof. Jesus had just spoken of discerning the weather signs but questioned their inability to discern the "signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3), highlighting their spiritual blindness and unwillingness to accept the overwhelming evidence of His Messiahship.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Blindness and Unbelief: Jesus labels them a "wicked and adulterous generation." This isn't merely a moral accusation but points to their spiritual unfaithfulness to God, seeking external validation rather than believing in the truth already presented. Their hearts were hardened, and they prioritized their own agendas over God's revelation.
  • The Sufficiency of Christ's Revelation: Jesus asserts that no further sign will be given to them beyond "the sign of the prophet Jonas." This implies that ample evidence was already available, and those who refused to believe would not be convinced by any additional miracle.
  • The Sign of Jonah: This is the singular, ultimate sign Jesus offers. As explained in Matthew 12:40, just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man would be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." This prophesies Jesus' death, burial, and glorious resurrection—the cornerstone of Christian faith and the ultimate proof of His divine authority and victory over sin and death.
  • Divine Departure: The phrase "And he left them, and departed" signifies Jesus' turning away from those who stubbornly rejected Him. It underscores the consequence of persistent unbelief and spiritual obstinacy.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "wicked" (Greek: ponēros) implies active evil, malice, and moral depravity.
  • "Adulterous" (Greek: moichalis) here extends beyond physical infidelity to spiritual unfaithfulness. In Old Testament prophecy, Israel's departure from God and pursuit of other gods or false security was often depicted as spiritual adultery (e.g., Jeremiah 3:8, Hosea 1:2). These leaders, though outwardly religious, were unfaithful to the true God by rejecting His Son.
  • "Sign" (Greek: sēmeion) refers to a miraculous event or token used to authenticate a message or messenger.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that true faith does not continually demand new signs, but rather responds to the revelation God has already given. For us today, the ultimate sign is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are called to believe in Him based on the testimony of Scripture and the Holy Spirit, not to seek sensational experiences as a prerequisite for faith. The passage also warns against spiritual complacency and the danger of rejecting truth when it is clearly presented, lest we, too, be left in our unbelief.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 12:39

    But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

  • Matthew 12:40

    For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

  • Luke 11:29

    ¶ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

  • Luke 11:30

    For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

  • Jonah 1:17

    Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

  • Mark 8:38

    Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

  • Mark 8:12

    And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
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