Gospel Parallels: The Pharisees Seek A Sign
Mark 8.11–13 || Matthew 16.1–4; 12.38–39 || Luke 12.54–56; 11.29 || John 6.30
Parallel is from Aland’s Synopsis of the Four Gospels, parallel #154
Gospel of Mark
Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him. Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side. (Mark 8.11–13 NET)
Gospel of Matthew
Now when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He said, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away. (Matthew 16.1–4 NET)
Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (Matthew 12.38–39 NET)
Gospel of Luke
Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12.54–56 NET)
As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. (Luke 11.29 NET)
Gospel of John
So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? (John 6.30 NET)