They ask for a sign

Sign from Heaven. Leaven of Pharisees.

(The Gospel History, Section 69)

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came forth, and began to question with him, and asked him to shew them a sign from heaven, tempting him.

They ask for a sign

(The Saviour of the World, Vol IV, Book III, Poem XL)

He entered boat, and with His disciples came
To the western coast of fair Gennesaret:
Nor talked He with His friends, who, sorrowful,
Perceived that the cross lay heavy on their Lord:
As water poured through sieve seemed all His words,
And they, they nothing kept nor understood!
The people, too,—this present evil world,
Their thought and sole desire; nor knew they yet
That things they coveted nor got at all
Were precious only as they thought them so;—
They lent all worth to that which had no worth,
Nor saw the glory of those things they left!

The boat reached Magdala;—the scribes came forth,
And Pharisees whose spies had brought them word
That hither came He for whom hate laid wait,—
And quick they swarmed about Him, hating more
For that they heard was wrought in Gadara.

Guileful they questioned—would be shown a sign,
Comported them as eager for the truth—
The while they watched for single word or act
Which, before Sanhedrin brought, should justify
Them, murderous.

St. Matthew xvi. 1.
St. Mark viii. 11.