Take Heed and Beware

Introduction

Review:

Conflict in Gennesaret - Jesus leaves to Tyre and Sidon - Goes to Decapolis - Returns to Jewry at Magdala

Pray

Matthew 16:1–12 “1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. 5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

Pharisees and Sadducees

Matthew 16:1 “1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.”

Pharisees:

Followed Mosaic laws and rabbinic laws (tradition of the elders).

Strict in observance of the law and preservation of Jewish distinctiveness.

Generally had the support of the people.

Believed in the resurrection, angels, and spirits.

Sadducees:

Politically influential and controlled the priesthood.

Prone to hellenization.

Rejected rabbinic tradition and held only to TORAH (Pentateuch).

Did not believe int he resurrection, angels, or spirits.

Their normal relationship

Acts 23:6–10 “6 But when Paul perceived that the 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: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.”

Why it matters?

The Pharisees brough reinforcements to try to trip up Jesus. Ironically, their reinforcements—the Sadducees—not only reject the resurrection, but the tradition of the elders.

The last we saw the Pharisees was before Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon, bringing up the issue of Jesus and his disciples “transgressing the tradition of the elders” Matthew 15:1–2 “1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”

Matthew 12:39–40 “39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Application: Don’t be surprised when those offended by the Word band together with the most unlikely of allies. Sometimes the only requirement for entry into their club is a mutual disdain for a particular doctrine or person.

Jesus Counters

Matthew 16:2–4 “2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

Jesus highlights their failure to discern the signs they’d already seen.

He doesn’t play into their hands—reiterating the sign of Jonah, without giving the details he had before.

Sadduccees would have rejected the book of Jonah and thus Jonah as a prophet.

Jesus continued to use Scripture as the inspired and authoritative word of God, even when the people he was talking to rejected it.

Be cautious about abandoning Scripture when you’re speaking with someone that doesn’t believe it — It remains God’s word whether people believe it or like it.

If we consider Jesus’s actions here and his instructions to the disciples earlier.

Matthew 10:14 “14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”

There comes a time, when ending a conversation and walking away is the right thing to do. Jesus stood firm and then essentially said, “this conversation is over” before departing.

Neither the Pharisees nor Sadducees were genuinely seeking answers, but were hoping to instigate conflict and discredit Jesus. He could have provided them with an additional sign, but it isn’t what they were actually looking for.

Short Memories

Matthew 16:5–12 “5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

We’ll get back to what Jesus said in a moment, but I want us to look at the disciples.

Half listening and short memories.

They apparently stopped listening at “leaven.” Discuss how kids at times only hear part of their instructions.

We have a tendency to stop listening when we assume we know what is being said.

Like the disciples we can also have short memories. Though they saw to miraculous feedings of multitudes among many other miracles, they still had a tendency to think in terms of what they had and evidently completely forgot when Jesus instructed them regarding the Pharisees

Matthew 15:13–14 “13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

However, Jesus wasn’t intending to give a lesson on listening and provision. Let’s look again at what he was communicating to his disciples that they missed at first.

Take Heed and Beware

Matthew 16:6 “6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition Matthew 16:6

Ὁρᾶτε — Observe or take note of | then “beware.”

Jesus was instructing his disciples to recognize the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees and be wary of it.

The combination of take heed and beware could be compared to knowing the venomous snakes in the area (taking heed) and then watching for them as you’re on a hike (beware).

What were they supposed take heed and beware of then? The disciples finally realize this at the end of our passage.

Matthew 16:11–12 “11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

King James Version Matthew 16:6

the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

King James Version Matthew 16:12

the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

We’ve already discussed some of the defining characteristics of these groups doctrines.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious of the day and they had corrupt doctrine which either rejected portions of Scripture, as with the Sadducees, or added things to it and reinterpreted it erroneously, as with the Pharisees.

At the same time as we watch these encounters between Jesus and the religious leaders, notice their tactics.

They appeal to their own authority and try to assert dominance, through accusations like we saw in

Matthew 9 - Jesus forgives sins and is accused of blasphemy | Sits with sinners and is disdained

Matthew 9:34 - First accusation of miracles done through the power of Satan

Matthew 12 - The sabbath conflict - disciples eating and Jesus healing the withered hand

Matthew 12 - Demon cast out and Jesus accused of doing it by “Beelzebub”

Matthew 12:38 - First request for a sign to “prove” himself

Matthew 15:1–2 - Transgressing the tradition of the elders w/ handwashing

They are seeking to garner support, even from those normally opposed to them like we see here with the Pharisees and Sadducees.

How have we consistently seen Jesus respond to them? Just as Matthew wrote earlier, Matthew 12:19 “19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.”

Jesus doesn’t hurl baseless accusations or try to accumulate allies. He stands on the authority of the Scriptures and uses it to dismantle their manmade traditions and attempts to discredit him.

Application: The devils tactics haven’t changed. Manmade traditions and divisive factions are still used to attack the church.

We need to listen to Jesus’s instruction here to take heed and beware of the leaven while following his example of relying on the word of God.

Each of these errors compound towards disastrous misunderstandings.

This is why Jesus’s warning is important to his disciples then and now.

The popular teaching of the day was that of the Pharisees, which might have made it appealing to the disciples.

They themselves likely followed the Pharisaic interpretation before Jesus called them.

Application: We need to be students of the word so we can recognize corrupt doctrine 2 Timothy 2:15 “15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Interestingly, Jesus compares their doctrine to leaven.

We discussed leaven in Jesus parables back in Matthew 13 and recognized that it is something that permeates and pervades, effecting the whole lump.

Here we are exposed to the negative implications described in Ecclesiastes 10:1 “1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

While the error of the Pharisees and Sadducees was not insignificant, even if it was it would cast doubt on all their teachings.

I am reminded of how many times I have seen videos or messages from teachers that have been really good, but later I will see another one where they are way off base and teaching contrary to Scripture. Immediately, I grow concerned about their teaching as a whole.

1 Corinthians 5:6 “6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”

Along those lines Paul in that same letter continues to say 1 Corinthians 5:7 “7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:”

Application: What Paul wrote and what we see here in Matthew is not directed only outwardly, but is also a call for inward inspection.

It’s not a “those people out there have bad doctrine,”

but a is what we have been taught and are teaching sound doctrine?

Have we studied for ourselves or merely taken what has been handed to us by tradition?

Are we following Jesus’s instruction to take heed and beware, or are we blindly following, hoping those we follow are not also blind?

Pray