Matthew 16:2

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 16:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red.
Matthew 16:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He answered and said unto them, etc.] 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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See also Mark 8:11-12. The Pharisees also, and the Sadducees - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. Tempting - That is, trying him - feigning a desire to see evidence that he was the Messiah, but with a real desire to see him make the attempt to work a miracle and fail, so that they might betray him and ruin him. A sign from heaven - Some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets; and they supposed, if he was the Messiah, that his miracles would not all be confined to the earth, but that he was able to give some signal miracle from heaven. Samuel had caused it to thunder 1 Samuel 12:16-18; Isaiah had caused the shadow to go back ten degrees on the dial of…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Luk 12:54. Matthew 16:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:2-3 Jesus made a deliberate play on their words when they sought a “sign from heaven” (16:1). They were able to read the weather in the sky (Greek ouranos, the same word translated “heaven”), but they failed to discern the Messiah despite the many signs already given (see 11:1-6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“When: Luk 12:54-56 Matthew 16:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification