Matthew 16:1

προσελθόντες : one of Mt.'s oft-recurring descriptive words. φαρ. καὶ Σαδδ.: a new combination, with sinister purpose, of classes of the community not accustomed to act together; wide apart, indeed, in social position and religious tendency, but made allies pro tem, by common dislike to the movement identified with Jesus. Already scribes by themselves had asked a sign (Matthew 12:38). Now they are joined by a party representing the priestly and governing classes among whom the “Sadducees” were to be found (Wellhausen, Die Pharisäer und die Sadducäer). Mk. mentions only the Pharisees (Matthew 16:11), but he makes Jesus refer to the leaven of Herod in the subsequent conversation with the disciples, whence might legitimately be inferred the presence of representatives of that leaven. These Mt. calls “Sadducees,” probably the better-known name, and practically identical with the Herod leaven. The “Herodians” were, I imagine, people for whom Herod the Great was a hero, a kind of Messiah, all the Messiah they cared for or believed in, one who could help worldly-minded Israelites to be proud of their country (vide Grotius on Matthew 16:6). It was among Sadducees that such hero-worshippers were likely to be found. ἐπηρώτησαν : here like the simple verb (Matthew 25:23) = requested, with infinitive, ἐπιδεῖξαι, completing the object of desire. σημεῖον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ : before (Matthew 12:38) only a sign. Now a sign from heaven. What might that be? Chrys. (Hom. liii.) suggests: to stop the course of the sun, to bridle the moon, to produce thunder, or to change the air, or something of that sort. These suggestions will do as well as any. Probably the interrogators had no definite idea what they wanted, beyond desiring to embarrass or nonplus Christ.