Matthew Chapter 16, Verse 1
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1: και προσελθοντες οι φαρισαιοι και σαδδουκαιοι πειραζοντες επηρωτησαν αυτον σημειον εκ του ουρανου επιδειξαι αυτοις
1: The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting
desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
1: And there came to him the Pharisees and Sadducees tempting: and
they asked him to shew them a sign from heaven.
See also Mk 8:11, Mk 8:12. The Pharisees also with the Saducees. See Barnes "Mt 3:7.
Tempting. That is, trying him - feigning a desire to see evidence that he was the Messiah, but with a real desire to see him make the attempt to work a miracle and fail, that they might betray and ruin him.
A sign from heaven. Some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets; and they supposed, if he was the Messiah, that his miracles would not all be confined to the earth, but that he was able to give some signal miracle from heaven. Samuel had caused it to thunder, 1Sam 12:16ff. Isaiah had caused the shadow to go back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz, Isa 38:8 and Moses had sent them manna from heaven, Ex 16:4, Jn 6:31. It is proper to say, that though Jesus did not choose then to show such wonders, yet far more stupendous signs from heaven than these were exhibited at his death.
