Matthew 16:4

Wicked and adulterous. “Wicked” in the sense that it lacked moral and spiritual perception; “adulterous” in the sense that it was disloyal to God (see on ch. 12:39).

No sign. Jesus’ critics were in need of spiritual regeneration within, not of some outward token (see DA 406). The very words Christ spoke were in themselves an impressive “sign,” would they but give heed.

The prophet Jonas. Christ here points, first, to the converting power of the preaching of Jonah as a “sign” to the people of Nineveh, even as His own preaching was a sign to the people of His day (see DA 406), and second, to the time element — three days and three nights — in the experience of Jonah (see pp. 248-250).

He left them. See on chs. 10:14, 23; 15:21. Jesus refused to argue further with these hypocrites. It was useless to do so, for nothing was to be gained, either by way of convincing them or of enlightening the bystanders. Further discussion could serve only to confuse the people and to confirm the Pharisees and the Sadducees in their course of deliberate disbelief and deception.