The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 127

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XVI. moon by Joshun, the lightning and thunder that came at Samuel's word, the stroke or Vere.1--4.-The Phariseea and Sadducees death on the captains who tried to arrest deeire a sign. (Mark viii. 11-13.) Elijah. They had heard of the miraculous Ver. 1.-The Pharisees also with the meal just before, and saw how deeply the Sadduoees; rather, and the Phariaees and people were moved by it, and they would Sadducee,, The scribes aud Pharisees are imply that such a miracle was no proof of often mentioned together as watching or a Divine mission, as it might have been attacking Jesus; but this is the first time wrought by magical or Satanic agency. that we hear of Pharisees combining with Let Christ give a sign from heaven, and Sadducees for this purpose. The two sects they would acknowledge his claims. They were directly opposed to each other, the knew what Christ's answer would be, as traditional belief of the former being anta- they had already attacked him with the gonistio to the scepticism and materialism same demand ( eh. xii 38); and they hoped of the latter. But both were hostile to that he would either refuse to gratify them, Christ, whose teaching, on the one hand RB before, or else ma.ke an attempt and fail. interfered with ro.bbinism, and ou the other In either case they thought they might tum maintained the existence of the super- the circumstance to his disadvantage. The natural and the certainty of the resurrec- Sadducees joined in the request, because tion. The Sadducees alone seem to have they disbelieved in all such occurrences, attacked Christ only on two occasions. and were fully persuaded that they weru They were probably Herodians (comp. eh. impossible, and any one who attempted to :uii. 16), and on this _account also disliked produce them must prom himself a m:ser- by the Pharisees; but they were powerful, able impostor. The word translated desired and held most of the highest offices in the (b17pd,-r71<Tav) is emphatic; the verb is used 11tate, and their alliance was sought or classically in the sense of "to put a q ues- allowed in order more effectually to com- tion for decision;" so the interrogation here promise Jesus. Even theological hatred would signify that this wo.e to be a fiual and political opposition sank into indiffer- test of the claims of Christ; on his answer ence in the face of what wne regarded as depended their adhesion or opposition ( comp. a common danger. Strauss and his school l Cor. i. 22). regard this combination as so unnatural Ver. 2.-The paragraph comisting of this that they throw disoredit on the whole ac- and ver. 3 is omitted by many good manu- count. Thie is shallow criticism. Nothing scripts, probably owing to it~ simil:J.rity to is more common than for persons oppose,l the passage in eh. xii. 38. These ,erscs on all other subjects to coalesce for an un- are most probably genuine; and they cor- holy purpose in which they a.re jointly t11inly couhl not have been foisted into the interested. The most violent political op- text from Luke xii. 51-56. The circum- ponents will join forces in order to gain stances ure too different, and the variations some desired point, and when an attack on too marked, to make such interpolation the Church is meditated, even unbelievers probable. When it is evening. The Phari- are gladly welcomed. Tertullian says sees had demanded a sign from heaven; forcibly, "Obrist. is always being crucified J esue points to the western glow in ths between two thieves." Tempting. Trying sky, and taunts them with being ready him with captious questions, to bring him enough to rrnd the signs of the weather, into a difficulty, or to give them an oppor- but slow to intorp_ret proofs of more im- tunity of accusing him of heterodoxy, or portant ciroumstanres. He does not, in ths disloyalty, or insubordination, and of die- case of these mixed cavillers, argue from crediting him with the people. A sign from Scripture, but from the natuml world, and heavon. The rabbis held that demons and he points out that, bad they eyes to see and • false gods could perform certain miracles a mind to discern, they might mark tokens on earth, but God alone oould give signs in historical events, in the moral and from heaven, euch o.s, e.g., the manna of spiritual world, which attested his Messiah• Moses' time, tlle staying of the sun and ship as clearly as any specially given eig11 MATTllli:W-ll, K  130 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MATTHEW. [orr. xvi. 1-2£