Message summary: As we receive instruction from the Word of God and the Spirit of God may we have prayerful insight to discern the times and perceive things from an eternal and spiritual perspective.

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The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:1-3). “None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand” (Daniel 12:10b).

Hurricane Melissa is raging through the Caribbean and forecast to be the most forceful hurricane in Jamaica’s history with sustained winds of 175 mph. I read this morning about a dream honeymoon that turned into a terrifying ordeal for Texan newlyweds who are stranded in Jamaica as the Category 5 hurricane barrels toward the island. I don't suppose that's what they had in mind but it will be a most memorable honeymoon!

Modern forecasting can look ahead many days in the case of a storm, especially hurricanes. In ancient times forecasting was not as sophisticated of course but they nevertheless had short-term ways of forecasting weather and Jesus uses such a method today to correct the Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to Him, not as earnest seekers, but rather to test Him. They asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.

Jesus, during the course of His ministry, demonstrated many signs and wonders but in this setting he gave a weather lesson that is still used today. “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’” This expresses an ancient folksy weather observation, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” 

But Jesus really wasn’t giving a lesson on weather. He continues: “Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” He went on to rebuke them: “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Although Jesus did perform signs and wonders for earnest seekers he didn’t oblige these Pharisees and Sadducees. Essentially He seems to point to His death and resurrection as the ultimate sign when he used the phrase, “the sign of Jonah".

Initially it seems to me the failure of the Pharisees and Sadducees to “discern the signs of the times” resulted in their inability to understand or interpret that Jesus the Messiah was indeed among them.

But today I also consider the phrase “discern the signs of the times” in another sense. A powerful verse in an obscure portion of the Old Testament refers to the “Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). These men had insight concerning the times in which they lived resulting in a plan of action.

We also need to discern the signs of the times in which we live. Discernment is defined as “the activity of determining the value and quality of a certain subject or event, particularly the activity of going past the mere perception of something and making detailed judgments about that thing. As a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgment; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.”

Daniel wrote, “None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand” (Daniel 12:10b). As we receive instruction from the Word of God and the Spirit of God may we have prayerful insight to discern the times and perceive things from an eternal and spiritual perspective.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13