Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 16:1

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

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees. See Barnes on Matthew 3:7.

Tempting. That is, trying him—feigning a desire to see evidence that he was the Messiah, but with a real desire to see him make the attempt to work a miracle and fail, so that they might betray and ruin him.

A sign from heaven. This refers to some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets, and they supposed that if he was the Messiah, his miracles would not all be confined to the earth, but that he would be able to give some signal miracle from heaven.

For example, Samuel had caused it to thunder (1 Samuel 12:16–18). Isaiah had caused the shadow to go back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Isaiah 38:8), and Moses had sent them manna from heaven (Exodus 16:4; John 6:31).

It is proper to say that, although Christ did not choose then to show such wonders, yet far more stupendous signs from heaven than these were exhibited at his death.