Weather forecasters rarely receive praise for their good work and more often than not, they are a target of criticism and a subject of jokes. But there are two passages in the Bible which show that even Jesus did not spare them. Obviously there was no official meteorological agency then, but amateur weather forecasting seems to have been a popular occupation.

Verses 1-3, Chapter 16, of the Book of Matthew, say:

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

Verses 54-56, Chapter 12, of the Book of Luke, say:

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?’