Judges 6:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Gideon inquires of the Lord for a confirmation. If I have received favor in Your sight, grant me a sign today. The Gospel admonishes a fascination with miracles in these words: Matthew 12:39, A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign. EXPLANATION. After receiving a sign from God, Gideon affirmed his role, modeling himself after Moses and Joshua. However, Christ accurately labels the Pharisees as a wicked generation because they pursued signs purely out of curiosity, not to affirm the undeniable truth.

Gideon reached the conclusion, based on all he had received from the angel, that it was indeed the Lord who was genuine, and that His promises were trustworthy. However, the more significant the truth, the greater the necessity for clear evidence of its full assurance. For this reason, Gideon, reassured by the angel's message, desired tangible proof of the truth he had discerned from the angel's words. He sought a sign, a miracle, to confirm that the one addressing him was truly the Lord and therefore that all He spoke was unquestionably valid.