Mat 12:38, 16:1, Joh 2:18 | JFB | e4.org | 38. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master —"Teacher," equivalent to "Rabbi." we would see a sign from thee —"a sign from heaven" ( ); something of an immediate and decisive nature, to show, not that His miracles were real —that they seemed willing to concede—but that they were from above, not from beneath. These were not the same class with those who charged Him with being in league with Satan (as we see from ); but as the spirit of both was similar, the tone of severe rebuke is continued.

‏ Matthew 12:38

38. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master—"Teacher," equivalent to "Rabbi."

we would see a sign from thee—"a sign from heaven" (Lu 11:16); something of an immediate and decisive nature, to show, not that His miracles were real—that they seemed willing to concede—but that they were from above, not from beneath. These were not the same class with those who charged Him with being in league with Satan (as we see from Lu 11:15, 16); but as the spirit of both was similar, the tone of severe rebuke is continued.

‏ Matthew 16:1

‏ John 2:18

18-22. What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?—Though the act and the words of Christ, taken together, were sign enough, they were unconvinced: yet they were awed, and though at His very next appearance at Jerusalem they "sought to kill Him" for speaking of "His Father" just as He did now (Joh 5:18), they, at this early stage, only ask a sign.