“One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.”
Matthew 16:1 NLT
Time spent around demanding people is never fun. It doesn’t take long to learn what they expect. Whether it’s attention, a favor, or agreement with everything they say and do, they get what they want by demanding.
This is the second time Matthew mentioned the religious leaders demanding a miraculous sign from Jesus. But Jesus told the Pharisees that only evil and adulterous people would demand such a thing. “Then He left them and went away.” (v. 4)
Adulterous people are unfaithful. They leave intimate relationships to go their own way. Those selfish individuals have no respect for God or anyone else. According to Jesus, it’s those “only MY way” people who dare to demand something from God. And it’s those people Jesus left!
This story reminds me of a similar one during Samuel’s time. The Israelites’ adulterous behavior had broken their relationship with God, and yet they still tried to “demand” His protection by carrying the Ark into battle. But when the Philistines captured the Ark, God’s Presence departed from Israel!
I wonder if I ever demand God fit into MY size and shape of box. Do I demand He do things my way, a way that makes sense to me—instead of letting God be God?
Relationship is the priority.
If I truly know God, I will trust God, not demand God!
