The Old Testament prophets and its righteous saints longed to see what could be heard and seen in Jesus’ words and deeds (see 2 Samuel 23:5; Job 19:23–27; Luke 2:25). Abraham was among those righteous (John 8:56; see Hebrews 11:13, Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:10–20). The coming of the Messiah and his kingdom, the signs that would mark his coming, and the time when these signs would begin were of great interest to the Old Testament saints. What even the great men of God from the old covenant never saw was now seen by the disciples. As well, Jesus says that for the experience of faith, the seeing of the signs is as important as the hearing of the Word.
The prophets and the righteous of the old covenant longed to see that which could be heard and seen in the words and deeds of Jesus (see 2 Samuel 23:5; Job 19:23–27; Luke 2:25). Abraham was counted among the righteous (John 8:56; see Hebrews 11:13, Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:10–20). The coming of the Messiah and his kingdom, the signs that would mark his coming, and the time when these signs were to begin were of great significance to the Old Testament saints. What even the great men of God from the old covenant could not see was now seen by the poor, the lowly, the humble believers. Furthermore, we see that, according to Jesus, for the experience of faith, the seeing of the signs is just as important as the hearing of the Word.1
17 Je vous le dis en vérité, beaucoup de prophètes et de justes ont désiré voir ce que vous voyez, et ne l'ont pas vu, entendre ce que vous entendez, et ne l'ont pas entendu.