Matthew 16:1

MATT. 16

THE PHARISEES ASK A SIGN FROM HEAVEN; THE INFLUENCE OF THE PHARISEES; PETER'S CONFESSION OF CHRIST; THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. (Matthew 16:1)

This indicates that Christ was at that time back on the west side of Lake Galilee, which was Pharisaical territory. The request of those enemies of Jesus for a sign from heaven was actually intended to cast a reflection on the mighty miracles Christ had performed, which, as interpreted by those hypocrites, were not "from heaven."

They were utterly wrong, of course. A sign in the skies, or from above, would have been no more convincing than raising the dead or walking on the sea. As a matter of fact, Satan's destruction of Job's sheep (Job 1:16) was explained by some as "The fire of God is fallen from heaven"; but it was no such thing; it was a lying miracle of Satan. Thus, the basis of their request for a sign from heaven was a prior falsehood in the theology of the Pharisees, classifying signs as "from heaven" or from earth. They were wrong on both counts. Origen said:

They erred in regard to both, in regard to signs upon earth as well as to signs from heaven, ... not knowing how to distinguish between the spirits that are working, which kind are from God, and which have revolted from him.[1]

Note that longstanding enmity between the Pharisees and Sadducees was submerged and muted while they made common cause against the Lord of glory, a pattern often observed. Herod and Pilate became friends as a result of the common cause they made against Christ (Luke 23:12). Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:7); Tirhakah and Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:8), in spite of being enemies, made league against God's people. Again to quote Origen, "Those who hold the most divergent opinions appear to be of one mind that they may scoff at and attack Jesus Christ in the person of his disciples.[2]

[1] Origen, Commentary on Matthew in the Ante-Nicene Fathers (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Company, 1951), Vol. X, p. 450,

[2] Ibid., p. 450.