And the Pharisees and the Sadducees came up to Jesus and, testing him, wanted him to show them a sign from heaven.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees, despite their doctrinal disagreements, united with the aim of testing Jesus. The heavenly sign they demanded did not come from a faith-filled search, but expressed doubt and an expectation of extraordinary proof by human standards. They likely were waiting for something beyond the miracles Jesus had done, such as an astronomical sign or a voice from heaven, which testified to their unbelief. Jesus never complied with such demands, because he saw the intentions within them.