A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 16

The Pharisees and Sadducees (ο Φαρισαιο κα Σαδδουκαιο). The first time that we have this combination of the two parties who disliked each other exceedingly. Hate makes strange bedfellows. They hated Jesus more than they did each other. Their hostility has not decreased during the absence of Jesus, but rather increased.

Tempting him (πειραζοντες). Their motive was bad.

A sign from heaven (σημειον εκ του ουρανου). The scribes and Pharisees had already asked for a sign (12:38). Now this new combination adds "from heaven." What did they have in mind? They may not have had any definite idea to embarrass Jesus. The Jewish apocalypses did speak of spectacular displays of power by the Son of Man (the Messiah). The devil had suggested that Jesus let the people see him drop down from the pinnacle of the temple and the people expected the Messiah to come from an unknown source (John 7:27) who would do great signs (John 7:31). Chrysostom (Hom. liii.) suggests stopping the course of the sun, bridling the moon, a clap of thunder.

Fair weather (ευδια). An old poetic word from ευ and Ζευς as the ruler of the air and giver of fair weather. So men today say "when the sky is red at sunset." It occurs on the Rosetta Stone and in a fourth century A.D. Oxyr. papyrus for "calm weather" that made it impossible to sail the boat. Aleph and B and some other MSS. omit verses 2 and 3. W omits part of verse 2. These verses are similar to Lu 12:54-56. McNeile rejects them here. Westcott and Hort place in brackets. Jesus often repeated his sayings. Zahn suggests that Papias added these words to Matthew.

Lowring (στυγναζων). A sky covered with clouds. Used also of a gloomy countenance as of the rich young ruler in Mr 10:22. Nowhere else in the New Testament. This very sign of a rainy day we use today. The word for "foul weather" (χειμων) is the common one for winter and a storm.

The signs of the times (τα σημεια των καιρων). How little the Pharisees and Sadducees understood the situation. Soon Jerusalem would be destroyed and the Jewish state overturned. It is not always easy to discern (διακρινειν, discriminate) the signs of our own time. Men are numerous with patent keys to it all. But we ought not to be blind when others are gullible.

Same words in 12:39 except του προφητου, a real doublet.

Came (ελθοντες). Probably= "went" as in Lu 15:20 (ιρε, not ςενιρε). So in Mr 8:13 απηλθεν.

Forgot (επελαθοντο). Perhaps in the hurry to leave Galilee, probably in the same boat by which they came across from Decapolis.