Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:38-45 KJV)
The evil generation has lasted from Adam until now. Jesus brought cleansing to us, but now, at the end, the “last state of that man [Adam] is worse than the first.” Mankind en mass thinks only evil continually from the morning to night and night to morning. And men still clamor for a sign, running hither and thither to one conference after another for some spiritual wonder. But, Jesus is not some circus sideshow who does tricks and miracles for our amusement. He is King of kings and LORD of lords and he shows himself constantly to those who watch for him.
And this is why Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who asked for a sign. His entire ministry declared his identity. He could have performed any number of signs, including calling fire down from heaven, but the religious leaders still would have scoffed. So it is today. Thousands of “signs” proclaim the end of this age and the imminence of the next. Yet, tell that to most Christians, the religious Pharisees of this culture, and they will nod in agreement, but still work tirelessly for success and riches in this world. And, many will still flock to the latest “prophetic” conference to see “what God is doing.” Yet, these same ones will have nothing to do with learning about God’s ways, his requirements for godliness and sanctification.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV)
An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.
