4. THE SEEK A SIGN Mark 8:10-13 (Matthew 15:39; Matthew 16:4) 10 And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.--Matthew (Matthew 15:39) says: "Came into the borders of Magadan." These were probably small towns situated close to each other. Some think there was but one town, having two names. Neither exists now. Note the evangelists do not say that he went to either of those towns, but only to the coasts, or parts, where they were situated. This leaves no contradiction between the two writers. 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him,--The Pharisees were looking for a great earthly king and conqueror, with vast wealth, and invincible armies, breaking in pieces Rome and all its kingdoms, and making Jerusalem the capital of the world. They were questioning whether Jesus, who could heal the wounded, feed multitudes, calm storms, raise the dead, could he this conqueror and redeemer of the nation. seeking of him a sign from heaven,--That would prove him to be this kind of a king and conqueror they were expecting. They saw no other way of the fulfillment of God's promises, for they had shut their eyes and were blind to a large part of them. Probably they were seeking from him a miracle from the sky, such as the standing still of the sun and moon during the life of Joshua (Joshua 10:12-13), or as the thunder and lightning on Sinai (Exodus 19:16), and not a sign on the earth, such as his miracles were. Samuel had caused it to thunder (1 Samuel 12:16-18);Isaiah had caused the shadow to go back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Isaiah 38:8);and Moses had sent them manna from heaven. (Exodus 16:4; John 6:31.) askinProbablyg it was something like this for which they were . trying him.--They wished to test the extent of his miraculous powers. As they could not deny the miracles which he had wrought, they wanted to be able to say that there were some miracles which he could not work. Once before a demand like this had been made of him (Matthew 12:38), and his refusal then inspired them with a greater boldness in again making the demand. Thus, with ingenuity truly devilish, they sought an apparent advantage over him before the people. This is the first and only time that the Pharisees and Sadducees are mentioned as acting in concert against Jesus. Their extreme jealousy toward each other, and the different grounds on which they were opposed to Jesus, rendered concert of action almost impossible. The chief cause for which the Pharisees opposed him was his disregard of their tradition; and in this the Sadducees sympathized with Jesus, because they also denied the authority of tradition. Relative to his miracles the Pharisees and Sadducees occupied common ground, and hence their agreement in asking for a sign from heaven. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign?--When so many signs, so many incontrovertible proofs of my mission from the Father have been already given, and continue to be given daily? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.--That is, no such sign as they asked, namely, a sign from heaven. He said one should be given, the same as was furnished by Johah (Matthew 16:4);but this was not what they asked, nor would it be given because they asked for a sign. He wrought no sign for the sake of the sign and wonder; his miracles were wrought because they were needed and thus became signs of his love, his character, and his authority from God. It was a sin for the Pharisees to ask for new signs and miracles for a confirmation for that doctrine which has been already confirmed by miracles; so it is a sin today for one to ask for a new message of something independent of the gospel of Christ to save him. "The gospel: it is the power of God unto salvation," and we need not look for any other power to save. To the gospel God has tied us, and from it we cannot turn and expect salvation. Matthew (16:4) also adds "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah." From the statement of Jesus it has been thought that the Jews of the Savior's time were a very adulterous people. They certainly were when compared with a perfect standard, but not when compared with the heathen nations about them. The denial of a sign from heaven did not preclude such a sign as that of Jonah. On coming from the dead Jesus gave the only sign he promised to give them. 13 And he left them, and again entering into the boat departed to the other side.--The one used by and for Jesus and his disciples.