With this chapter comes a whole, entirely new subject, never mentioned before — Jesus was going to build the church, Christ’s assembly. But let’s review what has been given, and now is being set aside. (1) The total failure of Israel in their about 1,500 years of testing — since Moses and the law were given. (2) The uselessness of a religion of forms and ceremonies. (3) Man’s heart has been exposed to a Perfect Man among them. It is rotten through and through. But still, God cannot be defeated, even although the generation of people Jesus was among had seen a Perfect Man, all this was abandoned.
V.1 The combination of Pharisees and Sadducees was very unusual, for they hated each other. But opposition to Christ always unites. They ask for a sign! They have had signs before their eyes in every miracle which He performed, yet they wouldn’t accept Him. But they will get a sign when it shall be too late! Turn to Matthew 24:29-30. God never acts without first giving warnings.
V.2-5 He speaks plainly about their seeking a sign. Their refusing Him, causes Him to do the last sentence of verse 4. What a terrible thing to happen to anyone.
V.6-12 Even the disciples are slow to believe Him, and to understand — these two things always go together. Evil doctrine is generally pictured by “leaven” (yeast) in Scripture.