Pharisees.. Sadducees] An unnatural and unholyalliance of men whose only bond of union was hatred of Jesus. The Sadducees had probably been sent from Jerusalem by the chief priests, but some regard them as the same as the Herodians mentioned by St. Mark, and, therefore, Galileans.
From heaven] Jewish superstition held that the demons could work signs on earth, but that only God could work them in heaven.
2, 3. They professed to be able to forecast the weather, but shut their eyes to the signs of the times which denoted the speedy fulfilment of the prophecies respecting the coming of the Messiah.
The second half of Matthew 16:2 ('When it is evening,' etc.) and all Matthew 16:3 are omitted by some important ancient authorities, but the evidence in their favour, both internal and external, is so strong that it is hazardous to reject them. J. Lightfoot says, 'The Jews were very curious in observing the seasons of the heavens, and the temper of the air,' and gives examples of their weatherwise saws.