Matthew 16:1-12

Watch and Beware

Matthew 16:1–12 (ESV)

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Introduction:

Watch and Beware

Highway- Signs Rocks, Falling rocks, Deer. Be cautious as danger is near. Signs are usually seen with our eyes, This can be our physical eyes, but in this passage it is spiritual signs

Jesus was asked about signs, in these verses, but provided two signs were given. The sign of Jonah and to Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew is written to point to Christ as the messianic King fulfilling the OT scriptures. The majority of Jesus Ministry at this point has taken place in the region of Galilee. Jesus had been preparing his Disciples with a revealing of his mission and purpose.

In this transitional section of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is teaching and preparing his disciples for greater faith that will be needed in the next phase of his ministry.

Tension in Matthew’s story is building… Chapter 16 is the turning point for the disciples

Peter will soon make the single most important confession of faith in Jesus thus far in Matthew—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16)—after which Jesus begins to teach the disciples that it is necessary for him to die and then be raised again (v. 21).

But before he asks them this question, he warns them. Watch and beware. Not of rocks or deer, but spiritual false teaching that can lead them and the future church astray.

Three points

Unbelief is Spiritual blindness, Watch and Beware of spiritually blind guides, True faith is seeing Jesus as the the signs of the times.

Matthew 16:1–4 (ESV)

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

I. Unbelief is Spiritual blindness

Spiritual blindness is the inability to see the truth of God through Jesus.

Why did they come, What did they ask for, Jesus’ response

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 9:39–41 (ESV)

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

While the Pharisees and Sadducees play a role in this narrative, the primary focus is on the disciples and their journey toward a deeper understanding of who Jesus.

As we begin, we see the Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven to prove His authority. Their request reflects a profound unbelief; despite witnessing His miracles and teachings, they still seek further validation. Jesus rebukes them, pointing out their ability to interpret the weather but their failure to discern the spiritual signs around them.2. What did they ask? To show them a sign from heaven.

Who are they?

As the passage begins, we see the Pharisees and Sadducees demanding a sign from Jesus. Their request is rooted in unbelief; they have seen countless miracles and yet still seek further validation of His authority. Jesus rebukes them for their inability to interpret the signs of the times, comparing their ability to discern weather patterns with their failure to recognize the spiritual truth standing before them.

The Pharisees and Sadducees approached Jesus demanding a sign from heaven. Their request reveals a critical lack of faith. They had witnessed countless miracles and teachings that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, yet they still sought further proof. Their demand for a sign demonstrates a heart hardened by unbelief.

2. Why did they come?

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

The Pharisees and Sadducee are the religious leaders of the day. They probably represent the Sanhedrim.

They are polar opposite in their beliefs and goals for their people…

It is no secret that the Pharisees already have plotted to kill Jesus.

3. What did they ask for?

Their request reflects a profound unbelief; despite witnessing His miracles and teachings, they still demand further evidence.

They do value scriptures and read from them but watch out and beware of how they twist and practice.

4. What is Jesus’ response

a. Weather metaphor

Jesus rebukes them, pointing out their ability to interpret the weather but their failure to discern the spiritual signs around them.

Jesus responds by pointing to the weather: they can interpret the signs of the sky but fail to recognize the signs of the times. This highlights a poignant truth: spiritual discernment is not merely about seeing but understanding. The Pharisees' inability to see Jesus for who He truly is reflects a complete blindness to God's revelation in Christ.

We have almost the same saying: “Red sky at night: sailors’ delight. Red sky at morning: sailors take warning.”

b. Sign of Jonah

We have already studied the sign of Jonah, since Jesus spoke of it in nearly the same words as early as chapter 12 (v. 39).

Jesus mentions the sign of Jonah, reminding us that His resurrection will be the ultimate sign of His authority and divinity. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The Pharisees' request for a sign is ironic; the greatest sign is already among them, yet they remain blind to it.

Can interpret physical signs from the sky, but missing the spiritual sign standing in front of you. Sign of Jonah

c. Walked away

Then he “left them and went away” (vv. 2–4). Those last words are ominous with meaning.

II.Watch and Beware of these spiritually blind guides

Distraction with physical needs. Forgotten bread.

Spiritual Amnesia, Jesus just feed 5k and then 4k. Why are you so concerned about bread. Oh you of little faith.

I did not speak about bread. Be concerned about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Leaven/ Yeast

Teaching

Hypocrisy

Externals verses internal

Teaching of the elders

Watch and beware

Leaven

False teachings-

This moment serves as a crucial reminder for the disciples—and for us—about the danger of false teachings. Jesus warns the disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” indicating that the influence of these religious leaders could permeate their understanding and beliefs, much like leaven affects dough. The leaven symbolizes the false doctrines and hypocritical practices that can distort the truth of God’s Word.

For the disciples, this warning is a call to discernment. They must not allow the skepticism and unbelief of the Pharisees to influence their faith. In our own lives, we face similar challenges. The world is filled with competing voices, ideologies, and teachings that can lead us astray. We must be vigilant in our pursuit of truth, grounding ourselves in Scripture and the teachings of Christ, and being wary of anything that deviates from the gospel.

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Mt 12:14.

What is the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

This interaction serves as a critical lesson for the disciples—and for us. Jesus warns them to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The leaven symbolizes false teachings and the corrupting influence of these religious leaders.

Jesus warns them to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The leaven symbolizes false teachings and the corrupting influence of these religious leaders.

For the disciples, this warning is essential; it emphasizes the need for discernment.

To grow in faith, we must guard against false teachings that can distort our understanding of the gospel.

Just as the disciples needed to be aware of the influence of the Pharisees, we too must guard our hearts and minds against teachings that do not align with Scripture.

Later in Matthew he provides several “woes” to the Pharisees, but he states to Matthew 23:2–3 (ESV)

2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

This leads us to consider our own lives. Are we sometimes like the Pharisees, asking for signs when we should be trusting in what God has already revealed? Faith does not demand signs; it responds to the truth of God's Word.

III. True faith is seeing Jesus as the the signs of the times.

What do you believe about Jesus? Is he the way, the truth and the life? What is your spiritual condition. What is going on inside of our heart? What has informed your thinking. Bible, Life of Jesus, Warnings.

Beware of those who discredit Christ, they are blind, false teachers

It is OK to state that Jesus is a great teacher, taught peace and not judging.

Purpose of sign. Point you in the right direction.

Do they believe in Jesus? No. Do they want to? They do not.

Growing hostility.

The Pharisees’ very name means “separated,” and they separated themselves by strict observance of the law and traditions of Israel. They were the most spiritual people of the time. Although their zeal for the law drew them into legalism and a sad preoccupation with minutia, which Jesus condemned, they nevertheless believed in all the right things: a supernatural written revelation from God (our Old Testament), miracles, the coming of the Messiah, the resurrection, and a final judgment at the end of time.

The Sadducees were liberal. They did not believe in miracles, and although they looked for a Messiah, the Messiah they looked for was no more than an effective political leader. They were really politicians themselves, and their policy was to collaborate with and support whatever government happened to be in power at the time.

Pharisees and Sadducees appear side by side in their opposition to Jesus. More than likely they were representing the Sanhedrin, which included both groups, and this was probably an official delegation. The narrative flow suggests that they were waiting in Galilee for Jesus, anticipating his return from the north, and that they confronted him as soon as he arrived. Matthew says that they wanted to discredit him by demanding a miracle that he either could not or would not perform.

It took a great deal of unbelief to ask for a sign from Jesus after he had already given so many. Matthew alone has told us about his healing the sick, casting out demons, calming storms on the Sea of Galilee, feeding the hungry, even raising the dead. Most, if not all, of these miracles must have been reported to these leaders, which is why they had come to challenge Jesus. But it was not really a sign they were after. They hated Jesus for who he was, and their demand was really only an attempt to discredit him.

At this same point in the next Gospel, Mark tells us that Jesus “sighed deeply” (Mark. 8:12), so we may conclude that Jesus’ answer came from a heavy heart.

He was distressed at the fierce unbelief and lack of spiritual understanding of those who should have been leading Israel to believe on him as their Messiah.

I have been raised from the dead, and all that means nothing to most of you. You worry about whether it is going to rain tomorrow, but you don’t give a single serious thought to where you

What they seek is to make him stumble and lose face with the people.

They are hypocritically asking for something they believe he cannot deliver. But to the sympathetic reader, who has just finished with the feeding of the four thousand, the request for a marvellous sign is ludicrous, a symptom of acute spiritual blindness.

Jesus has already. Casts out demons, healing, raising the dead, feels 5 K walks on water, feeds 4k more. “Not enough” We need a little bit more. They don’t dispute miracles. They are insufficient for us to change our minds.

What would you see as sufficient evidence. What would it take? for the skeptic no amount of proof. Their minds were blind.

In fact, the desire of these religious rulers for a sign reveals their spiritual blindness.

They asked for a sign “to test him.” In other words, they wanted Jesus to perform for them, to prove to them that He had authority, that He was who He said He was. They were asking out of their own doubt, their own disbelief. But it was more than that. They were asking out of a desire to prove Jesus fraudulent.

In Matthew 24Jesus warns that signs will be used by false prophets to deceive many.

24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

In 2 Thessalonians 2Paul attributes false signs and wonders to the devil outright.

9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Jesus’ answer is fascinating. He tells them that they will indeed see a sign from Him but it will not be a sign they can imagine or one they will even accept.

First, Jesus points out their blindness by observing that while they can read the weather they are missing the most momentous sign that is right before their very eyes: Jesus Himself. What is more, they will be utterly unprepared for the greatest miracle to come.

4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

The sign of Jonah is a reference to Jesus’ coming death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Jonah was swallowed by the great fish and then spit back up on shore, so Jesus would be buried but then would walk victoriously out of the tomb.

We must not miss what is happening here:while asking for lesser signs they were blinded to the greatest sign of all. This distinction was made by Paul in

1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Our faith is tied to the sign of Jonah—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—not to any other sign.

Jesus uses the occasion of the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ request to warn His disciples of their error.

It is an obsession with the externals of custom and with their own interpretations of the Law that blinded them to the reality of what God was actually doing right in front of them.

Jesus was warning them about the soul-debilitating need for signs that simultaneously rendered them unable to see the greatest sign of all.

6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Mt 6:1.

14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Mt 15:14–30.

Matthew 23:26

26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Isaiah 42:16

16 And I will lead the blind

in a way that they do not know,

in paths that they have not known

I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do,

and I do not forsake them.

“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The only gospel that will do us any good is the gospel of justification by grace alone because of Christ alone, which is received by faith alone.

He faulted them because they were unable to “interpret the signs of the times” (Matt. 16:3). Are you able to interpret the times? Above all, are you able to interpret the times well enough to come to faith in Christ? Romans 13:11uses this imagery when it says, “Do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

If the Sadducees and Pharisees of our story were not persuaded by Jesus’ power, neither would they have been won over by a spectacular sign from heaven (cf. Lk 16:31).

(He had already proven to them that he followed the Law, but not the oral teachings of the Pharisees The “you heard it said.”

He was not playing by their rules and they were on the outside of this proposed Kingdom of God. (plucked head of grain on the Sabbath and healing the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.

III. Faith is seeing and understanding that Jesus is the sign of the times.

Transitioning to their understanding that Jesus in the Christ, the Messiah.

Parallel passage in Mark 8 ends with this discussion with the unusual healing of a blind man in 2 stages.

Mark 8:22–25 ESV

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Healing illustrates our states of spiritual site.

The pharisees and Sadducees were blind and could not see Jesus as Christ.

We are born spiritually blind and do not see Jesus as Christ.

Only by Jesus intervening can we begin to see. The blind man could see people, but they look like trees walking. Seeing dimly, but does have a weak faith. With reliance on Jesus, he can bring us to greater faith and a Christ and our the purpose for our lives becomes clearer.

Mark 8:22-26, where Jesus heals a blind man in Bethsaida. Initially, the man sees trees walking—this represents little faith, where understanding is incomplete. After Jesus touches him a second time, his sight is fully restored, symbolizing great faith and a clear understanding of who Jesus is.

Just as the blind man needed multiple touches to gain full sight, the disciples are on a similar journey. They are beginning to understand, but they need to grow in their faith to fully recognize Jesus as the Christ. We too are on this journey, moving from little faith to great faith as we deepen our understanding of Christ’s nature, His work, and His love for us.With faith we can know see the signs of the times. We do not need miraculous healings to strengthen or faith, We do not need fire from heaven. We now see the sign of Jonah. Jesus lived a life of perfection that lead him to the cross, like Jonah he was buried for 3 days and then resurrected to glory.

Are we spiritually like the blind man and Jesus is now beginning to heal our sign with faith and repentance. Are we distracted with our physical needs and the world around us?

For those of faith, Christ has given us the sacraments, his Word, the Communion of the Church, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit, The third person of the trinity, to lead us to greater faith. Our mission is clear. It is not about me, but Jesus. Pick up our cross and follow him.

The second point we must consider is that our faith in Jesus increases as we come to a deeper understanding of His identity. In this passage, the disciples demonstrate little faith when they become preoccupied with their lack of bread instead of grasping the spiritual truths Jesus is teaching them. They misunderstand His warning about the leaven and focus instead on their physical needs.

Jesus responds to their confusion by asking, “Do you not yet understand?” (Matthew 16:9). This question reveals His desire for the disciples to grow in their understanding of who He is—the Messiah, the Christ, who has come to fulfill God’s promises. He wants them to move beyond a surface-level faith into a profound recognition of His divine identity and mission.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Matthew 16:1-12 challenges us to grow in our faith by being aware of false teachings that can lead us astray, guarding the truth of the gospel in our hearts.

Simultaneously, we are called to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is—the Christ who transforms our lives and calls us into a deeper relationship with Him.

As we navigate our faith journeys, let us pray for discernment and a greater understanding of Christ. May we move from spiritual blindness to full sight, recognizing the depth of His love and the richness of His grace. In doing so, may our faith grow stronger, and our lives reflect the glory of our Savior. Amen.

- - - - - - -

As we move deeper into the passage, we see the disciples misunderstand Jesus’ warning, focusing instead on their physical lack of bread. This moment highlights their spiritual immaturity and little faith. Instead of grasping the profound message about spiritual discernment, they are preoccupied with their immediate needs.

Jesus gently rebukes them, asking, “Do you not yet understand?” (Matthew 16:9). Here, we see His desire for them to grow in faith and understanding. Jesus wants them to recognize who He is—not just as a miracle worker but as the Christ, the promised Messiah. The disciples are in a process of revelation, but they need to move beyond little faith to a deeper understanding of Jesus' identity and mission.

Knowing the Times

Romans 13:11 uses this imagery when it says, “Do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

What does it mean for someone to understand the times? It is not a matter of understanding world events or politics or economics. Rather, it is a spiritual matter.

Man.s problem is not a lack of information, but that we are spiritually blind.

Leaven- Baker’s Yeast- to make bread and alcohol by creating carbon dioxide and alcohol from carbohydrates/sugars

- Jesus rebukes their lack of understanding, highlighting past miracles of provision (feeding the 5,000 and 4,000).

What was Jesus thinking as he and the disciples made their way across the lake again? It is perfectly clear from the story. He was still pondering the unbelief and hostility of the religious leaders. They should have believed on him, but they would not. Moreover, they were doing what they could to keep other people from believing. We know Jesus was thinking along these lines, because he suddenly spoke up with a warning for the disciples. “Be careful,” Jesus told them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v. 6). Jesus was warning them about the dangers of the legalism of the Pharisees and the modernism of the Sadducees.

What were the disciples thinking as they crossed the lake with Jesus? The answer to that question is obvious from the story too. They were thinking about food. The problem was that they had forgotten to bring along the necessary bread. So when Jesus said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v. 6), all they could think of was lunch. Their thinking must have gone something like this: “Yeast! Yeast is used to make bread! We don’t have any bread! We forgot to bring bread!” They figured it out: “Jesus must be upset with us because we forgot to bring enough food.”

As for bread itself, why should they be troubling their heads about that? Wasn’t he able to take care of them with or without bread? “Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” (vv. 9–10). If Jesus had been able to feed these two great groups of people so that they were not only fed but that baskets of food were left over, wouldn’t he be able to see that this small group of twelve had what they needed for food? Why couldn’t they trust him and leave it all in his hands?

Yet even that was not the worst failure on the disciples’ part. They had been thinking about food and had failed to trust Jesus for it, but what was worse was their failure to understand what he was saying about the religious teachers. He wasn’t talking about bread when he said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew says that when he told them he was not talking about bread, they finally understood “that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v. 12).

False teaching… Legalism. Jesus is enough. Prosperity Gospel- Want for us physical health and wealth. Not suffering. Faithfulness in Jesus and nothing else.

D. A. Carson approaches this question from the context of the Gospel, which is probably the best way to start, and he sees the problem as “an attitude of unbelief toward divine revelation that could not perceive Jesus to be the Messiah (vv. 1–4) but that tried to control and tame the Messiah they claimed to await.” He says that is why the next section of the chapter (vv. 13–20) is so important, because there “Peter makes the confession that Jesus is the Messiah, not on the basis of manipulative signs, but by revelation from the Father.”

In a parallel passage in the third Gospel, Luke calls the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ error hypocrisy (Luke 12:56).

What are we to make of these diverse interpretations? We need to take Luke’s explanation seriously. He is an inspired Gospel writer, after all. There is also chapter 15 in which Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their adherence to the traditions of men rather than the actual Word of God. They had been adding human legalisms to God’s revelation, which is why they were unable to accept the Lord when he came. He came with a gospel of pure grace, but they thought they had to earn their salvation by such legalistic behavior as keeping the Sabbath and observing a kosher diet. Jesus said of them,

These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

They worship me in vain;

their teachings are but rules taught by men.

Matthew 15:8–9; quoting Isaiah 29:13

What about the Sadducees? If the error of the Pharisees was to add to the biblical revelation, the error of the Sadducees was to take away from it. They dismissed the miracles. Even worse, they dismissed the Bible’s basically other-worldly outlook. They did not believe in a resurrection of believers. All they really had to live for was success and prosperity here and now.

In either case, whether by a legalism that added to the gospel or a modernism that subtracted from it, these men rejected and wanted to do away with Jesus. It is why they had come to test him by asking for a sign.

These two errors are always present in the church as well as in religion generally, which means they are a constant danger. One error is to try to live by law rather than by grace. It is the error of people who take their relationship with God seriously but do not understand the depths of their own depravity. They imagine somehow that they can add to Christ’s work by their own good works or keep themselves in a state of grace by their good deeds. Paul encountered this error among the Galatians and warned them against “beginning with the Spirit” but then “trying to attain your goal by human effort” (Gal. 3:3). Paul argued that living by grace and trying to live by works are two incompatible systems and that salvation is by grace alone.

The other error is just as insidious. The Pharisees were intensely religious and erred by adding to the gospel human understandings of what religion should be. The Sadducees were not religious, but they erred by rejecting anything that was too other-worldly or too demanding, as was Jesus’ teaching. This error is more common in our day than legalism. We do have legalists, both in the church and out, but most people in our day imbibe a modern approach to everything and live as if this world and what it has to offer are all that ever really matter.

Jesus warns against both views,and he is warning us as well as the disciples when he says, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” We can miss the gospel of God’s grace in Christ as much by legalistic as by modernistic unbelief. The only gospel that will do us any good is the gospel of justification by grace alone because of Christ alone, which is received by faith alone.

- Provide examples of modern-day "leaven" (e.g., prosperity gospel, legalism).

- Highlight the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers to truth.

- Reiterate that Jesus is the ultimate sign and source of life.

Beware- open your spiritual eyes to see the signs of the resurrection and to see him at work. To trust, believe and follow him. Jesus is all that we need in our lives this morning.

- Call the congregation to deepen their faith and reliance on Christ alone.

Application- Spiritual amnesia of weak faith. Fixate on current problem the we forget the things we know to be true. God

Remember all that Christ has done for you. What makes you prone to forget? Circumstances of the moment. Forget everything else.

He is lovingly bringing them to a place of clarity of who he is and what will happen next. He gives us what we need from weak to stronger faith. To follow him through the difficult times.

A non-follower of Christ- Ok to ask questions about the faith. All of us at one time were not Christians. Who is Jesus is the most important Question. Son of God. Creator and savior of the world. Ask that question today.

Believers- We often become weak in our faith. He asks us to remember all that Christ is. Fix our eyes on Christ, not the bread.

Focus on Christ not your problems. It will feed and fuel your faith. Lack of time in God’s word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Do you feel weak in faith. dive into God’s word. You will bear much fruit and joy. May good enable our Church to have great faith that is fixed on Christ. He is faithful.Growing in faith is a lifelong journey. It involves recognizing and rejecting false teachings, understanding the depth of Jesus’ identity, and embracing the transformative power of the Gospel. Just as the disciples were called to grow in their faith through Jesus’ teachings, we too are invited to seek a deeper relationship with Him.