Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
- BSB Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
- NKJV Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
- NASB Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
- NLT One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Some scribes and Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus to prove his authority.
Overview
Despite witnessing many miracles, they ask for a confirming sign, exposing their unbelief. Their request masks resistance rather than honest seeking. Jesus' response will expose the hardness behind this demand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Cor 1:22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
- Mark 8:11–12And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
- Luke 11:16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
- John 2:18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
- Luke 11:29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
- John 4:48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
- Matt 16:1–4The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
- John 6:30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 12:38 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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