Sign from heaven

The Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven (Matthew 16:1). The first “signs” in the heavens were the sun, moon, and stars. A sign from heaven is a sign of new creation, and Jesus’ response, alluding to the evening-morning pattern of the creation week, continues the creation symbolism (16:2-3). Later, he promises the Jews a sign from heaven (24:30) in conjunction with with the darkening of the sun, the fading of light from the moon, the fall of the stars (v. 29).