I'm enjoying reading the NT with you and also the insights some of you have posted. My comments in this post are from today's Priesthood lesson. Our class looked at two related NT scriptures about signs. The following scriptures are probably 2 different writers reporting on the same incident. In both the Savior uses the physical world to help us understand the spiritual world:

Matthew 16:1-4

1The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from ^aheaven.

2He ^aanswered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and ^alowring, O ye ^bhypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the ^csigns of the ^dtimes?4A wicked and ^aadulterous generation seeketh after a ^bsign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the ^csign of the prophet ^dJonas.

Luke 12:54-57

54¶And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

In these two scriptures the Savior says that the Pharisees and Sadducees can discern the signs in the skies but they cannot discern the signs of the times, or in other words the fulfillment of prophecy that he is the Messiah.

Seeking after a sign is a form of relying on the arm of flesh or the physical senses, and not having faith to rely on Heavenly Father and the spiritual senses. The Lord says it is a sign of hypocrisy. He has disdain for the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They led the covenant people astray and perverted the true gospel and law of Moses.

One form of hypocrisy is to look for an easily recognizable sign that obedience to a commandment brings immediate blessings. How often do we look for an instant reward to obedience? What we need to do instead is to recognize that the hand of the Savior is not always transparent in our lives, but if we have faith that he is the Messiah we know that obedience to his teaching will bring us to the greatest blessing of all and that is eternal life.

Putting our faith in him and not in a physical sign is what will guide us on our way home.

Love to all, Gramps