馬太福音第十六章第1—4節,耶穌說這個世代是一個“邪惡淫亂的世代”。這是神創世後由於亞當夏娃的墮落,自此讓世界陷入罪中。這樣的世界極需拯救,這就是為什麽耶穌說這樣的一個世代不需要什麽其它的神跡,除了約拿的神跡:即預表耶穌為了擔當人的罪死在十字架上受難後第三日複活,正像馬太福音第1章所說耶穌要“將自己的百姓從罪惡裏救出來”。神是多麽顧念他的子民!
太16:1 法利賽人和撒都該人、來試探耶穌、請他從天上顯個神跡給他們看。
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
太16:2 耶穌回答說、晚上天發紅、你們就說、天必要晴。
But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
太16:3 早晨天發紅、又發黑、你們就說、今日必有風雨。你們知道分辨天上的氣色、倒不能分辨這時候的神跡。
In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times!
太16:4 一個邪惡淫亂的世代求神跡、除了約拿的神跡以外、再沒有神跡給他看.耶穌就離開他們去了。
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed.