Matthew 16:2

2 He answered them, ^{[a] 1}“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red. ’

Matthew 16:2 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 16:2

He answered and said unto them
Knowing full well their views, and having wrought sufficient miracles to confirm his Messiahship, he thought fit to give them no other answer than this:

when it is evening, ye say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is
red;
when the sun is setting, it is a common thing for you to say, looking up to the heavens, and observing the face and colour of them, that it is like to be fair weather; no rain, that night, nor perhaps the next day, for the sky is red like fire, through the rays of the sun; which show the clouds to be very thin, and so will soon waste away, and consequently fine weather must follow.

Matthew 16:2 In-Context

1 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.

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.

Cross References

• 1. 16:2 [Luke 12:54, 55]

Footnotes

• [a] 16:2 Some manuscripts omit the following words to the end of verse 3