Matthew 16:3

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to  Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.”

Having just fed the 4,000 plus with seven loaves and a few fish, Jesus found himself being queried by the august Jewish teachers, both Pharisees and Sadducees, now strange bed fellows because the Pharisees believed in miracles and the Sadducees did not.

They joined to call Jesus to account, demanding, “Show us a sign from heaven.”  Had Jesus not just cured innumerable sick and infirm and then fed the multitude with a few loaves and fish until they were all satisfied?  Was not the land full of wonder about those signs “from heaven?” I assume that this is why Jesus’ critics showed up. What they had in mind we do not know. But we do know that they were skeptics, not students. They wished to be rid of Jesus, not be taught by Him. In  a few weeks they will demand his crucifixion.

Jesus discerned that they had no idea of why he was doing these amazing miracles. He made it clear at the time (as recorded by Matthew) that these were deeds of compassion not signs to dazzle the onlookers, the kind of signs these fellows demanded of Jesus. They probably had little compassion for such crowds of needy people.

Jesus saw through their machinations so asked them to discern “the signs of the times.” They fell silent, of course. Then he cracked open their real purpose in asking for a sign from heaven.  He said, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign.”  He described them perfectly but they took umbridge at Jesus’ accusation that they were wicked and adulterous, certainly not those fastidiously pure law-abiders!  They seethed with anger, no doubt.

Further interaction promised nothing so “Jesus then left them and went away.” v 4