The Pharisees were not philosophers, but realistic men who sought actual practice of the religious teachings in life that the faith might not remain a mere notion. They kept the law strictly and circumspectly to take from themselves the power to fulfill the commandments.
Here we find one of the differences between the West and East, the Greeks and the Semites. The Hebrews seek first the experience of a supernatural power as an evidence of their covenant with God in order to reach tangible results of their beliefs, while the philosophers in Europe think more about the reasons, motives, and purposes of their doctrine. First, they try to know God and the thought of faith. The Semites, on their part, want to carry out holiness. Thus, the law has become the axis of the oriental religions.
The Pharisees asked Jesus to perform a miracle as a sign of his power, and a proof of his divine origin. They wished to see him perform a great miracle like that of Elijah when he brought down fire from heaven upon the heads of his enemies. They were not satisfied with his miracles of healing the sick, and casting out demons, nor did they seek a sign of love, knowledge, and kindness, but they insisted on a sensational sign, which could bear political fruits forcing the law on everyone. However, Jesus gives no such proof or sign to whoever seeks of him power, money, or earthly wishes.
Christ, himself is the great sign of God. Therefore, the Mighty One was not willing to respond to the lawyers and perform a miracle to give them a proof of the power of his Son. But he came in person, proclaiming himself as a Father in the Son of his kind love, who manifested the hidden glory of God in the words of his truth, and the healings of the sick. Whoever believes in Christ, recognizes that he is the great divine sign of all times, for he was born of the Holy Spirit, took away the sins of the world, and reconciled us to God. He is life in himself. His resurrection is the evident proof of his divinity and of his triumphant power over every adverse to God. Christ himself is life. He gave us life with his Holy Spirit. If you believe in the Son of God, you will share his triumphant life, and live forever, experiencing his kindness, and his heavenly powers in his church today. Thus, Christ answers the questions of the East and West offering us, through the knowledge of his divinity, the power of love to carry out the law of the Spirit in us.