New Testament
Matthew 16:3
The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English
At a Glance
In this verse, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their inability to understand the spiritual significance of the events happening around them.
- Author
- Matthew the apostle
- Written
- Around AD 60-70
- Genre
- Gospel
- Original Audience
- Jewish Christians
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?
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?
Verse Analysis
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.
Related Bible verses
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
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.
The Book of Matthew
Matthew 1: The Generation and Birth of Jesus Christ
The book begins with the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. It records the generations from Abraham to David, from David until the carrying away into Babylon, and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ, each being fourteen generations. The genealogy concludes with Jacob begetting Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Unlock the full Matthew summary
Continue reading every chapter — themes, structure, and turning points.
The complete summary of Matthew — a chapter-by-chapter breakdown covering all 28 chapters.
What you get
Every chapter of Matthew summarized in clear, modern English
How each section connects — narrative flow, key themes, and turning points
Permanent access — read anytime, on any device
Best value • Save over 90%
One-time purchase • Access anytime
ClearBible summaries are proprietary content and may not be copied, republished, or resold.
Checkout works as a guest. After payment, you create an account to claim your unlock.