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

Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?

You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time?

Hypocrites, ye know how to judge of the appearance of the earth and of the heaven; how is it then that ye do not discern this time?

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

hypocrites! the face of the earth and of the heaven ye have known to make proof of, but this time, how do ye not make proof of it?

Vain pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth and sky. How is it you cannot read this present time?

O false ones! the face of the earth and the heaven is clear to you; how is it that the signs of these times are not as clear to you?

You hypocrites! You discern the face of the heavens, and of the earth, yet how is it that you do not discern this time?

Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time?

This time? - Can ye not discover from the writings of the prophets, and from the events which now take place, that this is the time of the Messiah, and that I am the very person foretold by them?

Ye hypocrites,.... A word often used of the Scribes and Pharisees, and which suggests, that there were such in company, to whom Christ more especially directs his discourse; and this may be the rather thought, since much the like things are said by him to the Pharisees, with the Sadducees, in Matthew 16:1 and the same appellation is given them there, as here:
ye can discern the face of the sky, and of the earth; from the appearance of the sky, they could tell how it would be with the earth, and the inhabitants of it, whether they should have dry or wet weather, heat or cold:
but how is it that ye do not discern this time? that this is the time of the Messiah's coming, and that it is the accepted time, and day of salvation, if ye receive him, and believe in him; and a time of vengeance, if ye reject him: this might have been discerned by the prophecies of the Old Testament, which fix the characters of the Messiah, and the time of his coming; and describe the manners of the men of that generation, in which he should come: and point out both their happiness and their ruin; as also by the doctrines they heard Christ preach, and especially by the miracles which were wrought by him, it might have been known he was come.

how . . . not discern, &c.--unable to perceive what a critical period that was for the Jewish Church.

How do ye not discern this season - Of the Messiah's coming, distinguishable by so many surer signs.