Matthew 12:38 - Exposition

Then certain . The demand is only made by a portion of those present, who, according to Luke 11:16 , were not the same as those who spoke our Luke 11:24 . Of the scribes and of the (Revised Version omits the ) Pharisees . They are represented as forming but one party ( Matthew 5:20 , note). Answered ( him , Revised Version, with the manuscripts). It is worth noticing that the insertion of the pronoun makes the passage more like Matthew 16:1 and parallels. Saying, Master ( διδάσκαλε ); Matthew 8:19 , note. Only in this place is their request given verbally. We would see ( θέλομεν ... ἰδεῖν ). Observe that their language is rather brusque; they express their own wish regardless of him. But they may have intended it only as a plain statement of the difficulty they felt in believing him. They wished to see a sign first. A sign . More than a miracle of healing, however wonderful; they desired, as expressly said in Matthew 16:1 ; Mark 8:11 ; Luke 11:16 , a sign from heaven, presumably some portent in the sky, which should be a sign of his mission (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:22 ; John 4:48 ). From thee ; i.e. happening, not accidentally, but at thy command.