In Galilee, the Pharisees approached Jesus and gained support from the scribes of Jerusalem. Matthew 16:1 shows that they also aroused the Sadducees’ opposition to Jesus. This implies that his actions were provoking growing suspicion among these Jewish leaders. Now the Pharisees join the Sadducees to repeat a question to which they had before received no answer. Perhaps they also hoped that together they could expose Jesus’ weakness—his always acting on his own authority—and that he would be unable to provide them with a sign that carried heavenly legitimacy.
When Jesus ministered in Galilee, it was the Pharisees who took the initiative to approach him, eventually gaining the support of the scribes from Jerusalem. From Matthew 16:1, it appears that they also succeeded in arousing opposition to Jesus among the Sadducees, who normally opposed them. From this, we can infer that his actions were drawing increasing attention and provoking growing suspicion among these unbelieving Jewish leaders. Now the Pharisees join forces with the Sadducees to repeat a question to which they had previously received no answer. Perhaps they also believed that together they could expose Jesus’ weakness—his always acting on his own authority—and they assumed that he would be unable to provide them with a sign that carries heavenly legitimacy.1
1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.