| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the aorist participle proselthontes {προσελθόντες | pro-sel-THÓN-tes} setting a temporal scene (“approached”). The coordinated subjects hoi Pharisaioi {οἱ Φαρισαῖοι | hoí Pha-ri-SÁI-oi} and Saddoukaioi {Σαδδουκαῖοι | Sad-dou-KÁI-oi} act together. The present participle peirazontes {πειράζοντες | pei-RÁ-zon-tes} provides the motive (“as a test”/“to challenge”). The main verb epērotēsan {ἐπηρώτησαν | e-pē-RÓ-tē-san} conveys the action (“asked”/“demanded”) with auton {αὐτὸν | au-TÓN} marking Jesus as object. The complementary infinitive epideixai {ἐπιδεῖξαι | e-pi-DEI-xai} governs the object sēmeion {σημεῖον | sē-ME-on} (“sign”). The source phrase ek tou ouranou {ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ | ek toû ou-ra-NOU} intensifies the demand for divine authentication. The dative autois {αὐτοῖς | au-TOIS} indicates the beneficiaries. The translations render participles and infinitive to reflect purpose and sequence while preserving emphasis on divine authority. |