Mark 8:11
- The “Pharisees” were a “revival movement” among the Jewish people who studied the Pentateuch carefully and tried to live their lives accordingly. The word “Pharisee” roughly means “the consecrated”.
- There is nothing wrong with examining and discussing with Jesus to see if what he says is true, but the Pharisees do this to “entrap” him.
- The Pharisees ask for a sign from heaven, which would be proof that Jesus was authorized by God.
- Jesus had done many signs in the past; for example, he had healed the sick and cast out demons.
- The problem was not a lack of signs from Jesus, but the Pharisees’ lack of a willingness to believe in Jesus when they saw the signs he did.
Mark 8:12
- No matter how many signs Jesus did, the Pharisees still ask for one more sign to accept Jesus.
- Jesus sighs deeply because he is tired and resigned to the unbelief of the Pharisees.
- Jesus never made signs to convince those who would not believe.
- Jesus did signs to heal the sick in love, not to show himself and prove to others who he is.
- If you have already decided in advance not to believe, then no matter how many signs you see, you still won’t believe. That’s why Jesus doesn’t give the Pharisees a sign.