And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Though they claimed to seek divine proof, the Pharisees and Sadducees feigned a desire for a sign, hoping Jesus would fail and expose himself. This wasn't a genuine quest for truth, but a calculated attempt to trap him.
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their deep theological disagreements, unite in a cunning attempt to trap Jesus. They demand a spectacular sign from heaven, a test designed to expose him as either a fraud or a failure if he cannot produce it. This challenge comes after Jesus has performed numerous miracles and taught with authority, highlighting their deliberate rejection of the signs they have already witnessed.
It's striking that the Pharisees and Sadducees, who often disagreed vehemently, teamed up here. What does this unusual alliance tell us about their true motives?
The Pharisees and Sadducees represented very different religious and political factions within Judaism. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to tradition and the Law, often with a focus on popular piety. The Sadducees, on the other hand, were more of an aristocratic and priestly party, often skeptical of traditions not explicitly found in the Torah and disbelieving in the resurrection or angelic beings.
Despite their deep-seated differences, they found common ground in their opposition to Jesus. Their alliance highlights a crucial point: when faced with something that threatens their established power, status, or worldview, even bitter rivals can unite. Their combined opposition wasn't about genuine theological inquiry, but about a shared threat they perceived in Jesus' teachings and growing influence.
The verse says they came 'tempting' Jesus. What exactly does that mean in this context? Were they just curious, or was there something more sinister at play?
The word 'tempting' here isn't about simple curiosity or a desire for proof. The original Greek suggests a more deliberate 'testing,' 'trying,' or even 'trapping' of Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees weren't genuinely seeking to know if Jesus was from God; they were looking for a way to discredit Him.
Their demand for a 'sign from heaven' was strategic. They knew Jesus had performed many miracles, but they dismissed these as potentially demonic or earthly. By asking for a spectacular, undeniable sign from the heavens – something akin to the great miracles of Moses or Elijah – they set an impossible standard. They hoped Jesus would either refuse, proving He wasn't powerful enough, or attempt the sign and fail, giving them grounds to expose Him as a fraud. It was a trap, designed to catch Him out and undermine His authority and popularity.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus often called out hypocrisy. What was hypocritical about this demand for a sign from heaven, especially when Jesus saw so many other signs around them?
Jesus' response, though not fully detailed in this specific verse, powerfully exposes the hypocrisy behind their demand. He pointed out that they could expertly read the weather signs – predicting rain from a red sky or a storm from clouds – yet they refused to recognize the far greater 'signs of the times' that proclaimed God's kingdom was breaking forth through Him.
Their 'selective sight' was the core of their hypocrisy. They had already witnessed Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, feed multitudes, and teach with unparalleled authority. These were not small, earthly acts but profound demonstrations of divine power and love. Yet, they deliberately ignored these clear indicators of God's presence, choosing instead to focus on a specific, pre-defined 'sign from heaven' that suited their agenda. They feigned a desire for undeniable proof while willfully blinding themselves to the undeniable proof already before them.
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A religious party in Judaism known for their strict adherence to the oral and written Law and their belief in the resurrection of the dead. They were often in conflict with Jesus due to their legalism and rejection of his authority.
Saddoukaioi · Greek Noun
A party of Jewish aristocrats and priests who held power in the Temple and denied the resurrection of the dead, angels, and spirits. They were characterized by their focus on political pragmatism and the written Torah.
sēmeion · Greek Noun
A proof or wonder intended to confirm a message or messenger from God. In the New Testament, signs are often markers of the arrival of the Kingdom of God and the Messiah.
The Pharisees and Sadducees, who held opposing views on religious law and the afterlife, united against Jesus because his teachings and authority threatened the established religious and political order that each sect represented.
c. 144 BC
Pharisees emerge as distinct sect
The Pharisees, emphasizing strict adherence to both written law and oral tradition, gain significant popular influence.
c. 100 BC
Sadducees emerge as distinct sect
The Sadducees, largely composed of the aristocracy and priestly class, reject oral tradition and focus only on the written Torah, denying resurrection and angelic beings.
c. 63 BC
Roman Rule Established
Rome conquers Judea, leading to a period of Roman governance that impacts Jewish political and religious life.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his itinerant ministry, teaching, healing, and attracting large crowds, which also draws the attention and suspicion of religious authorities.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Pharisees and Sadducees Confront Jesus
The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their deep theological and political differences, unite to challenge Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven to test his claims.
This passage shows a direct sign from heaven (thunder and rain) that God sent in response to a people's request, similar to how the Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from heaven from Jesus.
Isaiah 7:11Ahaz is challenged by God to ask for a sign from heaven, highlighting the theme of seeking divine proof, though in this case, it's a direct divine invitation rather than a test.
John 6:30-31The people ask Jesus for a sign, specifically referencing the manna from heaven, echoing the Pharisees and Sadducees' desire for a sign from heaven to authenticate his mission.
1 Corinthians 1:22This verse speaks to the Jewish demand for signs, contrasting it with the Greek desire for wisdom, directly addressing the mindset of those who, like the Pharisees and Sadducees, sought physical, heavenly demonstrations.
Luke 11:29-30Jesus directly addresses the demand for a sign, stating that no sign will be given to this generation but the sign of Jonah, a parallel to his response in Matthew 16:4.
calvinMatthew 16:1-4: "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven."
- And the Pharisees, together with the Sadducees, came, and tempting desired that he would show them a sign from heaven. 2. But he answering said to them, About the commencement of the evening you say, It will be fine weather; for the sky is red. 3. And in the morning, There will be a storm today; for the sky is red and lowering. Hypocrites, you can judge aright of…
henryMatthew 16:1-4: "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven."
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…
Though they claimed to seek divine proof, the Pharisees and Sadducees feigned a desire for a sign, hoping Jesus would fail and expose himself. This wasn't a genuine quest for truth, but a calculated attempt to trap him.
The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their deep theological disagreements, unite in a cunning attempt to trap Jesus. They demand a spectacular sign from heaven, a test designed to expose him as either a fraud or a failure if he cannot produce it. This challenge comes after Jesus has performed numerous miracles and taught with authority, highlighting their deliberate rejection of the signs they have already witnessed.
The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their deep theological disagreements, unite in a cunning attempt to trap Jesus. They demand a spectacular sign from heaven, a test designed to expose him as either a fraud or a failure if he cannot produce it. This challenge comes after Jesus has performed numerous miracles and taught with authority, highlighting their deliberate rejection of the signs they have already witnessed.
"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven." — Though they claimed to seek divine proof, the Pharisees and Sadducees feigned a desire for a sign, hoping Jesus would fail and expose himself. This wasn't a genuine quest for truth, but a calculate…
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Last reviewed October 2026