M16: Signs In The Sky Series

M16: SIGNS IN THE SKY

Matthew 16:1-4

#m16sermons

INTRODUCTION… childrensmn.org/educationmaterials/parents/article/7562 [adapted]

Old wives' tales are perhaps as old as language itself. They are part of our oral tradition, originating long before pen and ink, and books and movies. Many times, we still cling to such sayings about common ailments and life circumstances and our world even when we live in a world rich with medical expertise and proven treatments and cures and the ready information of the internet. Some old wives' tales are true and some are false. Most are harmless, but at the same time some are harmful. It is a mixed bag with these sayings.

Let’s see how many of these we might know:

> Cats can steal the [air] from a baby's mouth. False. This tale goes back hundreds of years to a time when cats were associated with witchcraft and evil spirits. Or just because they are mean.

> Feed a cold and [starve a fever]. False. Both high fevers and colds can cause fluid loss. Drinking plenty of liquids such as water, fruit juice, and vegetable juice can help prevent dehydration. And with both fevers and colds, it's fine to eat regular meals — missing nutrients may only make a person sicker.

> Wait an hour after [eating] before swimming. False. According to the American Red Cross, it's usually not necessary for you or your child to wait an hour before going in the water.

> Eating carrots will improve your [eyesight]. False. This tale may have started during World War II, when British intelligence spread a rumor that their pilots had remarkable night vision because they ate lots of carrots. They didn't want the Germans to know they were using radar.

> If you go outside with wet hair, [you'll catch a cold]. False. Cold weather, wet hair, and chills don't cause colds; viruses do.

> Cracking knuckles causes [arthritis]. False. However, habitual knuckle cracking tends to cause hand swelling and decreased grip strength, and can result in functional hand impairment.

> Red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky in morning [sailor’s take warning]. True. It has to do with dust and storm systems and pressure in the atmosphere, but yes, this is a common saying that is true even as weather often changes and shifts with the winds.

TRANSITION

I mention this last one because not only is a version of the saying: “Red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky in morning sailors take warning” in the Bible, but Jesus Christ says it in Matthew 16. I don’t know about you, but for me; if Jesus says it that settles it. This saying He uses is meant to make a point with some folks who were trying to trap Him in some questions and wanted to discredit Him before the crowds. We are in Matthew 16 today, but before we read the passage, we need a little context and background.

CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 16

Jesus is gaining some fame in His ministry and people are responding to His teachings and people all around are talking about Him. Jesus has been healing many people (Matthew 15:29-31). Lame folks are getting popular with their friends… no not that kind of lame… but physically lame people are physically walking. Mute people are speaking. Some with demon possession are healed. Blind people are seeing. Mothers-in-law are nicer. Jesus is performing miraculous healings and signs along with His teaching and preaching to show that He is Who He says He is… the promised prophet called the Messiah Who would bring salvation.

Not only has Jesus been healing, but He has also been doing other miracles like feeding 4,000 people (Matthew 15:32-39) with just a few loaves and a few fish. Not only did He feed all those people with the small food on hand, but there were leftovers. The feeding of the 4,000 is mentioned at the end of chapter 15 right before chapter 16 begins.

Jesus is gaining popularity among crowds of people and they are listening to Him about repentance and the Kingdom of God and forgiveness and love and holiness. While Jesus is doing all of this, He is also being monitored by religious leaders. In Matthew 16, we are told that Pharisees and Sadducees come and test Him and try to discredit Him because they felt threatened by Him. Pharisees were popular among the people as religious leaders and the Sadducees were politically powerful as religious leaders. Together they make up the religious leadership of the Jews and together they are a dangerous team.

TRANSITION

Now that we have a little context, let’s dig into Matthew 16:1-4. I am going to read it twice. Once from the ESV and once from the MSG.

READ MATTHEW 16:1-4 (ESV)

“And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Him they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 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.”