Signs of Infection

Matthew 16:1-12

I’ve entitled todays message, Signs of Infection Matthew 16:1-12 Lets see if we can get through this section in time, we may have to do a part deux. First, a challenge for a sign, then a warning of corruption of deadly doctrine.

Matthew 16:1–4  NKJV  “ Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to 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 foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”

Matthew 16:5–12  NKJV  “ Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” 8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to 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 doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Signs of Leaven Matthew 16:1-12

Jesus knows, that they are out not just to discredit, but kill. I - Team Up 1, II - Signs of the Times 2-3, III - Here’s Your Sign 4, IV - Chosing Sides, V - Doctrine Matters.

I - Team Up 1

Matthew 16:1  NKJV  “ Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.”

Pharisees believed in the entirety of the scripture and accepted literal heaven, hell, resurrection. Sadducees were pragmatist aristocrats, who used the law (Pentetuch, Torah) and treated the rest as not necessary for political control. They would have violent disagreements constantly.

For example: Turn to Acts 23:1–10  NKJV  they were trying to find paul guilty so that rome would kill him but… “ 6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” 10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.”

So the argument being presented, is disingenuous, because they really aren’t looking for Messiah. The pharisees maybe, but def not the Sadds. So its a moot point. And the enemy of my enemy, is? My Friend. Hate can bring people together even if only to destroy.

They attributed the miracles to Satan - Matthew 12:31–32 NKJV “ “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:34 NKJV “ Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Their poison, their leaven is deadly (v5,6)

Sign from Heaven. If you’re legit, show us a “sign”.

Jesus was constantly showing signs, turn to: John 7:25–31  NKJV  “ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?””

Just take a few moments in John, you’ll see it over and over. Jesus also said that these signs testified of Him, turn John 5:36–40  NKJV  “ But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

From heaven. Perhaps they meant like with Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:20–40 fire fell down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. Its a standard of true prophetic, “sign/power”.

It also happens in - Gen. 15:17; Lev. 9:24; 10:1, 2; Judg. 6:21; 2 Kin. 1:12; 1 Chr. 21:26; 2 Chr. 7:1; Job 1:16 - Abrahams covenant, the consuming of the sacrifice at the tabernacle, the fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu, and so much more.

II - Signs of the Times 2-3

Matthew 16:2–3  NKJV  “ He answered and said to 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 foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.”

Jesus uses a metaphor of what was considered common knowledge. We do similar. When my leg aches, its gonna rain, Red skies at night, sailors delight, red skies in morning, sailor take warning. This is a legit thing!

Light Scattering: Sunlight scatters off atmospheric particles; shorter blue/violet wavelengths scatter more, while longer red/orange wavelengths travel further. 

Morning Red Sky: A red sunrise means the sun in the east is hitting clouds and moisture already in the atmosphere to the west. 

Weather Pattern: Since weather often moves west-to-east, these clouds signal an approaching storm system or front, bringing rain or wind. 

Weather, isn’t the point though

The point is they (we) think they (we) have found wisdom. But they missed out on the understanding by not applying the same principles. Proverbs 4:7  NKJV  “ Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” if we don’t use the same principal its not just that we cannot but will not.

III - Here’s Your Sign 4

Matthew 16:4  NKJV  “ A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”

Wicked and adulterous generation, the leaders thought they were true and righteous, much like Israel was, God even calling them whores at times. Proverbs 30:12  NKJV  “ There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.” we just saw in Matthew 15:8  NKJV  “ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”

This isn't the first time this was asked. Turn to Matthew 12:38–45  NKJV  “ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.””

thus the brevity of the response shown to us here. The we’ve had this argument response.

Just to touch Jonah was a prophet, commanded by Yahweh to call the most powerful city of that age Nineveh, to judgement. When he got on a boat to go the opposite way because he was afraid they would repent, the Lord raged the sea and they ended up after Jonah said they should, throwing him overboard. Where: Jonah 1:15–17  NKJV  “ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. 17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

A person has been found to survive hours, but not days inside a large fish or whale or what not. Here though, the term isn't whale, but fish. Many scholars and rabbis, declare that Jonah was dead and that he was brought back when vomited on the beach. By the way, he did preach and Nineveh did repent

Now, we’ll have to continue this later. In closing, this is simple this is complicated. But what we cant do is dismiss this. Jesus came to save everyone, and they would reject Him. The sign of Jesus rising from the dead, bringing many with him, was impacting to say the least. A sign that they had to, had to make a permanent choice.

IV - Chosing Sides

V - Doctrine Matters