New Testament
Matthew 16:3
Read the Bible in clear, modern English—easy to understand, faithful to the meaning, and written for everyday readers.
And in the morning you say, 'It's going to storm today, because the sky is red and overcast.' You hypocrites! You know how to read the sky, but you can't read the signs of the times?
Compare translations
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
What Matthew 16:3 means
Plain-English insight for readers
In this verse, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their inability to understand the spiritual significance of the events happening around them. He points out that they can predict the weather by observing the sky, yet they fail to recognize the signs that indicate the arrival of God's kingdom through His ministry. This highlights their hypocrisy, as they are more focused on external appearances than on the deeper truths of faith and prophecy. Jesus is urging them to be more discerning and aware of the spiritual realities that are unfolding, which they should be able to recognize given their knowledge of Scripture. The 'signs of the times' refer to the fulfillment of prophecies and the presence of the Messiah, which they are ignoring despite their religious expertise.
How to apply Matthew 16:3 to your life
We should strive to be spiritually aware and discerning in our own lives. Just as the religious leaders were called to recognize the signs of their time, we too must be attentive to God's work around us and respond faithfully to His guidance.
Curated for this public verse page. Matthew Summary
Explore more of the Bible
Learn the Bible through its people and places
Get to know the people in Scripture through illustrated stories, and explore the places where they lived and traveled.
Illustrated scene from Paul's story: The Stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:57–8:2)
Meet the people of the Bible
Follow their lives in order, with illustrated scenes and Bible passages that tell their stories.
Paul
Photo: Gary Todd (Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D.), via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Source. Location: Southern end of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem Old City. Resized for the web.
Explore the places of the Bible
See where biblical events happened, why each place matters, and what archaeology helps us understand.
Jerusalem
David's capital, the city of the temple, and the place where Jesus died and rose again.
Get full access with one subscription
Explore the people and places of the Bible. Read summaries of every book, with images and clear explanations covering every chapter. Access all these features and our Bible study tools with one subscription.
See PlansAsk AI about Matthew 16:3
Ask a question about this verse and get a clear answer, with Bible references you can read for yourself.
Every Bible book, explained chapter by chapter
Explore summaries of every book of the Bible, with images and easy-to-understand explanations covering every chapter.
Keep studying Matthew 16:3
Related Bible verses
Key themes
Related topics
At a Glance — the Book of Matthew
- Author
- Matthew the apostle
- Written
- Around AD 60-70
- Genre
- Gospel
- Original Audience
- Jewish Christians
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Matthew 16:3 mean?
Matthew 16:3 shows Jesus criticizing the religious leaders for their inability to recognize the spiritual significance of current events. He points out their hypocrisy in being able to predict the weather but failing to see the signs of God's kingdom.
What is the meaning of 'signs of the times' in Matthew 16:3?
'Signs of the times' refers to the spiritual indicators and prophecies that point to the arrival of God's kingdom. Jesus is emphasizing that the religious leaders should be able to discern these signs given their knowledge of Scripture.
Why does Jesus call the religious leaders hypocrites in Matthew 16:3?
Jesus calls the religious leaders hypocrites because they can read the physical signs of the weather but fail to recognize the significant spiritual events occurring through His ministry. This illustrates their lack of true understanding and discernment.
How can we apply Matthew 16:3 to our lives today?
We can apply Matthew 16:3 by striving to be more spiritually aware and discerning in our own lives. Just as the religious leaders were challenged to recognize God's work, we should also be attentive to the signs of God's presence and guidance around us.
Daily Verse — straight to your inbox
A verse and a 2-sentence plain-English explanation, every morning. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.