Bible Commentary

Matthew 12:38

The Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 12:38

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Then certain. The demand is only made by a portion of those present, who, according to , were not the same as those who spoke our . Of the scribes and of the (Revised Version omits the) Pharisees.

They are represented as forming but one party (, note). Answered (him, Revised Version, with the manuscripts). It is worth noticing that the insertion of the pronoun makes the passage more like and parallels.

Saying, Master ( διδάσκαλε); , 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 ; ; , a sign from heaven, presumably some portent in the sky, which should be a sign of his mission (cf.

; ). From thee; i.e. happening, not accidentally, but at thy command.

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