Matthew 16:1

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus and demand that He demonstrate divine authority by producing a visible sign from heaven.

The words — προσελθόντες (proselthontes) means "having approached," and πειράζοντες (peirazontes) means "testing," marking the encounter as a deliberate challenge rather than a genuine search for truth.

The thread — This demand for a heavenly sign recurs in Luke 11:16, Jesus' warning about their influence in Matthew 16:6, and the Sadducees' political and religious opposition in Acts 4:1.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that demanding proof of divine action from heaven shifts the burden of faith onto the observer and treats revelation as a transaction.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiAnd προσελθόντεςproselthonteshaving approached οἱhoithe ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPharisees καὶkaiand Σαδδουκαῖοι,SaddoukaioiSadducees,πειράζοντεςpeirazontestesting ἐπηρώτησανepērōtēsanthey asked αὐτὸνautonHim σημεῖονsēmeiona sign ἐκekout of τοῦtou<the>οὐρανοῦouranouheaven ἐπιδεῖξαιepideixaito show αὐτοῖς.¶autoisthem.

King James Version

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

Cross-references

Luke 11:16 And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
Matthew 16:6 “Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Acts 4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Mark 8:11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
John 8:6 They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
1 Corinthians 1:22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
Luke 11:53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
Luke 12:54 Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.
Luke 20:23 But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,