Beware of the Leaven

Scripture Reading

Prayer

Introduction

Exposition 1

Matthew 15:32–39 ESV

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

32 - Compassion again

33 - You would think they would have learned the last time

In John’s account of the last feeding there was a strong rebuke given about only seeking food. It is possible that the disciples were trying to avoid a repeat of that scene.

It is also likely that Jesus is now with a Gentile or mixed crowd

“Messianic Banquet

34 - Collected the food (different amounts)

35 - sit

36 - Jesus “gave thanks” rather than “blessed”

37 - 7 rather than 12 Baskets left over

In 14:19-21, Baskets = Kosher food

Here, Baskets = Non-kosher food

Indicates Gentiles

38 - up to 10,000 total

39 - He fed them and left. We don’t know where Magadan is.

I. Jesus is the compassionate provider to all of those who follow Him (15:32-39)

Gentiles

Exposition 2

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.

1 - Asking again for a sign

2-3 - They can predict the weather but not the kingdom of God

4 - This should sound familiar

Matthew 12:38-42

Matthew 12:38–42 ESV

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just 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 at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

II. Jesus has given all the necessary evidence for you to believe, yet many never will (16:1-4)

Exposition 3

Matthew 16:5–12 ESV

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.

5 - Disciples now find themselves in the same situation as the people had been, no bread

6 - Jesus uses this as a teaching opportunity and warns his disciples not to take any bread from the Pharisees and Sadducees?

No, but that is what they understood.

7 - 11Jesus responds by telling them that they have little faith

12 - Now they see that He is warning them of the false teaching of these so called religious leaders.

III. Beware of false and misleading teaching, even in small amounts (16:5-12)