16:1 The {1} Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and {a} tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
(1) The wicked who otherwise disagree with one another, agree well together against Christ, but do what they can, Christ is victorious, and triumphs over them.
(a) To see whether he could do that which they desired, but their purpose was useless for they thought to find something in him by it, in which case they might have just occasion to reprehend him: or else distrust and curiosity moved them to do so, for by such means also is God said to be tempted, that is to say, provoked to anger, as though men would strive with him.
16:1 The Foundation of the Church
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 16:
A Sign Demanded. The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. At Caesarea Philippi. The Elias Who Should Come. The Confession of Peter. The Rock on Which the Church Should Be Founded. The Keys. Christ's Death at Jerusalem Foretold. The Rebuke of Peter. Losing Life and Finding It. The Coming of the Son of Man.
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees. Compare Mr 8:10-13. For description of these two sects, see PNT Mt 3:7. It is the first time the latter party is mentioned as opposed to Christ.
A sign from heaven. Some mighty, visible miracle. See Mt 12:38. Still in Paul's time the Jews required a sign (1Co 1:22).
16:1 A sign from heaven - Such they imagined Satan could not counterfeit. Mark 8:11; Matt 12:38.
16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct; yet they joined against Christ. But they desired a sign of their own choosing: they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. It is great hypocrisy, when we slight the signs of God's ordaining, to seek for signs of our own devising.
