The Sign of the King (2)

Matthew 16:1–4 NASB95

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

Matthew 16:1–12 NASB95

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. 5 And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10 Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11 How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Thirteen: The King’s Surprise ()

The word translated sign means much more than simply a miracle or a demonstration of power. It means “a wonder by which one may recognize a person or confirm who he is.”

John 12:37 NASB95

But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Thirteen: The King’s Surprise (Matthew 16)

The Pharisees and Sadducees did not lack evidence; they lacked honesty and humility.

(1) The Pharisees saw religion in terms of laws and commandments and rules and regulations. They saw religion in terms of outward ritual and outward purity. So Jesus is saying: ‘Take care that you do not make your religion a series of “you shall nots” in the way the Pharisees do. Take care that you do not identify religion with a series of outward actions, and forget that what matters is the state of a person’s heart.’ This is a warning against living in legalism and calling it religion; it is a warning against a religion which looks on a person’s outward actions and forgets the inner state of the heart.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Dangerous Leaven ()

(1) The Pharisees saw religion in terms of laws and commandments and rules and regulations. They saw religion in terms of outward ritual and outward purity. So Jesus is saying: ‘Take care that you do not make your religion a series of “you shall nots” in the way the Pharisees do. Take care that you do not identify religion with a series of outward actions, and forget that what matters is the state of a person’s heart.’ This is a warning against living in legalism and calling it religion; it is a warning against a religion which looks on a person’s outward actions and forgets the inner state of the heart.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Thirteen: The King’s Surprise (Matthew 16)

The word translated sign means much more than simply a miracle or a demonstration of power. It means “a wonder by which one may recognize a person or confirm who he is.”

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 85.65 ἀπολείπω; καταλείπω

85.65 ἀπολείπωa; καταλείπωb: to cause or permit something to remain in a place and to go away (with or without implying purpose)—‘to leave, to leave behind, to abandon.’

Matthew 16:5–12 NASB95

5 And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10 Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11 How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Dangerous Leaven (Matthew 16:5–12)

(1) The Pharisees saw religion in terms of laws and commandments and rules and regulations. They saw religion in terms of outward ritual and outward purity. So Jesus is saying: ‘Take care that you do not make your religion a series of “you shall nots” in the way the Pharisees do. Take care that you do not identify religion with a series of outward actions, and forget that what matters is the state of a person’s heart.’ This is a warning against living in legalism and calling it religion; it is a warning against a religion which looks on a person’s outward actions and forgets the inner state of the heart.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 30.45 ἐπιβλέπω; ἐφοράω; ὁράω

30.45 ἐπιβλέπωb; ἐφοράω; ὁράωb: to take special notice of something, with the implication of concerning oneself—‘to take notice of, to consider, to pay attention to, to concern oneself with.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 27.59 προσέχω; ἐπέχω

27.59 προσέχωa; ἐπέχωa: to be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately—‘to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on one’s guard against.’

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Dangerous Leaven (Matthew 16:5–12)

(2) The Sadducees had two characteristics, which were closely connected. They were wealthy and aristocratic, and they were deeply involved in politics. So Jesus may well have been saying: ‘Take care that you never identify the kingdom of heaven with outward goods, and that you never pin your hopes of bringing it into political action.’ This may well be a warning against giving material things too high a place in our scheme of values and against thinking that people can be reformed by political action. Jesus may well have been reminding the disciples that material prosperity is far from being the highest good, and that political action is far from producing the most important results. The true blessings are the blessings of the heart; and the true change is not the change of outward circumstances but the change of human hearts.

His Awareness (8)

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Thirteen: The King’s Surprise (Matthew 16)

“Little faith” was one of our Lord’s favorite names for His disciples (Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31). Of course, “little faith” is better than no faith. The disciples had many lessons to learn before they would graduate to “great faith.”

3. His Reminder (9-10)

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Dangerous Leaven ()

(1) The Pharisees saw religion in terms of laws and commandments and rules and regulations. They saw religion in terms of outward ritual and outward purity. So Jesus is saying: ‘Take care that you do not make your religion a series of “you shall nots” in the way the Pharisees do. Take care that you do not identify religion with a series of outward actions, and forget that what matters is the state of a person’s heart.’ This is a warning against living in legalism and calling it religion; it is a warning against a religion which looks on a person’s outward actions and forgets the inner state of the heart.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Dangerous Leaven (Matthew 16:5–12)

(2) The Sadducees had two characteristics, which were closely connected. They were wealthy and aristocratic, and they were deeply involved in politics. So Jesus may well have been saying: ‘Take care that you never identify the kingdom of heaven with outward goods, and that you never pin your hopes of bringing it into political action.’ This may well be a warning against giving material things too high a place in our scheme of values and against thinking that people can be reformed by political action. Jesus may well have been reminding the disciples that material prosperity is far from being the highest good, and that political action is far from producing the most important results. The true blessings are the blessings of the heart; and the true change is not the change of outward circumstances but the change of human hearts.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Dangerous Leaven ()

Luke 12:1 NASB95

Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

(1) The Pharisees saw religion in terms of laws and commandments and rules and regulations. They saw religion in terms of outward ritual and outward purity. So Jesus is saying: ‘Take care that you do not make your religion a series of “you shall nots” in the way the Pharisees do. Take care that you do not identify religion with a series of outward actions, and forget that what matters is the state of a person’s heart.’ This is a warning against living in legalism and calling it religion; it is a warning against a religion which looks on a person’s outward actions and forgets the inner state of the heart.

The Sign of the King (2)

I. The King Encounters Jewish Leaders (1-4)

A. The Testing of Jesus (1)

1. Their Approach

2. Their Intent

2. Their Intent

3. Their Request

B. The Reply of Jesus (2-4)

1. Illustration

2. Challenge

3. Evaluation

4. Pronouncement

5. Dismissal

II. The King Warns His Disciples

A. Their Miss-understanding (5-7)

1. Their Forgetfulness (5)

2. Jesus’ Warning (6)

3. Their Discussion (7)

B. Jesus’ Clarification (8-12)

1. His Awareness (8)

2. His Evaluation (8)

3. His Reminder (9-10)

4. His Restatement (11)

5. Their Enlightenment (12)