Matthew 16:5-12
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
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.
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.
Harmonizing the Gospel Account
Harmonizing the Gospel Account
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
1 In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned the disciples and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” He asked them.
“Seven,” they said. 6 Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the loaves, and kept on giving them to His disciples to set before the people. So they served the loaves to the crowd. 7 They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well. 8 They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. 9 About 4,000 men were there. He dismissed them 10 and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. 12 But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!” 13 Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Twelve,” they told Him.
20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
What we have read just now are the very words of God. They are not merely words on a page or an historical account of an event. This is God’s Word to us this morning, may we have eyes to see and ears to hear the what the Lord our God has for us this day.
Harmonizing the Gospel Account
13 Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Twelve,” they told Him.
20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
What we have read just now are the very words of God. They are not merely words on a page or an historical account of an event. This is God’s Word to us this morning, may we have eyes to see and ears to hear the what the Lord our God has for us this day.
13 Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Twelve,” they told Him.
20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
22 Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people—they look to me like trees walking.”
25 Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly. 26 Then He sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
What we have read just now are the very words of God. They are not merely words on a page or an historical account of an event. This is God’s Word to us this morning, may we have eyes to see and ears to hear the what the Lord our God has for us this day.
Intro
Intro
In this morning’s passage, we read a very short teaching of Jesus to his disciples following another confrontation that Jesus faces. Matthew, as you know, is divided neatly into five major sections that each contain a major discourse or teaching from Jesus. There are five teachings captured in Matthew’s Gospel and each sermon or segment of teaching sort of sets the theme for that particular section.
In this morning’s passage, we read a very short teaching of Jesus to his disciples following another confrontation that Jesus faces. Matthew, as you know, is divided neatly into five major sections that encapsulate the five discourses or teachings of Jesus. And we track the movement and flow of this Gospel when we encounter a transitional phrase that moves us into the next teaching segment of Jesus. It is the phrase “Jesus had finished teaching" Which we find five times in Matthew’s Gospel (7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).
You can find these sections when you divide the book up by a repeated transitional phrase. It is the phrase “Jesus had finished teaching" Which we find five times in Matthew’s Gospel (7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).
In this morning’s passage, we read a very short teaching of Jesus to his disciples following another confrontation that Jesus faces. Matthew, as you know, is divided neatly into five major sections that encapsulate the five discourses or teachings of Jesus. And we track the movement and flow of this Gospel when we encounter a transitional phrase that moves us into the next teaching segment of Jesus. It is the phrase “Jesus had finished teaching" Which we find five times in Matthew’s Gospel (7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).
28 When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
matthew 7:28-40
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,
And so, we can see that from this grouping of Matthew’s Gospel, we find ourselves in the middle of the fourth discourse. A section that starts in and ends in . Chapter 18 contains the fourth major discourse that Matthew recorded (cf. chs. 5—7; ch. 10; 13:1-53; chs. 24—25), His Discipleship Discourse. This discourse continues Jesus' instruction of His disciples that He began in 17:14. Instead of focusing on Jesus, the Lord's teaching focused on the disciples and their responsibilities as His representatives. The theme of this discourse is humility.
In case you were wondering, the first section’s theme of the Sermon on the Mount can be summarized in a word as righteousness. Second group, the theme of the Mission Discourse in chapter 10 was ministry. The theme of the Kingdom Discourse in chapter 13 was the kingdom, and the theme of the Olivet Discourse would be the Second Coming.
Olivet Discourse would be the Second Coming.
Olivet Discourse would be the Second Coming.
So with this theme in mind, I want us to engage this passage with humility in mind. But not only do I want us to sort of hone in on a disciple’s humility, but I want us also to look at this portion of Scripture in a transitional sense. Because there is one other way to divide the book of Matthew that I want to call attention to. And chapter 16 is sort of the hinge chapter for this division of the Gospel. The second way to divide Matthew’s Gospel is into two halves. Truly, we see some very distinct shifts occur when we reach chapter 16
For example,
But there is one other way to divide the book of Matthew. That I want to call attention to. And chapter 16 is sort of the hinge chapter for this division of the Gospel.
- Through , 31 miracles are recorded. However, in the second half (ch 17-26) only 12 miracles are recorded.
As you recall last week, we read of that confrontation that Jesus faces from the religious leaders to show them a sign. They wanted some sort of validation that Jesus is who he claimed to be, as though that would really satisfy them. The reality is that they had utterly rejected him and so in 16:4 we read that “he left them and departed.” The connotation being that their rejection brings Jesus to abandon them.
But there is one other way to divide the book of Matthew. That I want to call attention to. And chapter 16 is sort of the hinge chapter for this division of the Gospel.
Second outline points us to the need to be growing in our understanding.
And in , we find a transition in Jesus’ ministry here unlike we had seen before. We could say that this passage not only is the focus of this third discourse or third section that Matthew outlines for his book, but it is also the hinge chapter for the entire book. And the section we are considering this morning is the conclusion for a large unit of thought in Matthew’s Gospel.
Opposition arose from the Jewish people (13:54-58), from the Romans (14:1-12), and most strongly from the religious leaders within Judaism (15:1-9; 16:1-4). The rejection of this last group finally became so firm that Jesus abandoned them (16:4). From now on He concentrated on preparing His disciples for what lay ahead of them because of Israel's rejection of Her King.
In , we find a transition in Jesus’ ministry here unlike we had seen before. We could say that this passage not only is the focus of this third discourse or third section that Matthew outlines for his book, but it is also the hinge chapter for the entire book. And the section we are considering this morning is the conclusion for a large unit of thought in Matthew’s Gospel.
I saw all of this because chapter 16 is a pivotal chapter to the entire book and a strong grasp of this section will help us to see a progression of faith.
4 times Jesus rebukes them for their little faith (6:30, 8:26, 14:31, and 16:8), but in the latter half, just once (17:20)
The rejection of this last group finally became so firm that Jesus abandoned them (16:4). From now on He concentrated on preparing His disciples for what lay ahead of them because of Israel's rejection of Her King.
I saw all of this because chapter 16 is a pivotal chapter to the entire book and a strong grasp of this section will help us to see a progression of faith.
For example, in the first unit we read of how
For example, in the first unit we read of how
The Holman NT Commentary captures a couple more shifts....
Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew II. Commentary: The King Turns toward the Cross
• Through the first part of Matthew 16, the disciples had limited understanding of Jesus’ identity and mission. From the latter part of Matthew 16 forward, their understanding grew rapidly.
• Through the first part of Matthew 16, Jesus had generally, avoided mentioning his death and resurrection, focusing instead on laying the foundation of his disciples’ understanding. From the latter part of Matthew 16 forward, Jesus spoke clearly and often of his coming suffering, death, and resurrection.
• Through the first part of Matthew 16, Jesus had spoken in general fashion about the kingdom he was advancing. From the latter part of Matthew 16 on, he gave more specific instruction regarding the church he would build.
• Through Matthew 16:20, Jesus had been content to stay in the “backwater” around Galilee, far from the hotbed of religious hypocrisy in Jerusalem. Beginning with 16:21, he took the road toward Jerusalem and the cross (see also 19:1; 20:17, 29; 21:1, 10).
And so from this outline, we see that there is a sort of urgency to complete the will of God and a progressive growth and comprehension of the kingdom of God by the disciples.
This phrase always occurs at the end of one of Jesus' major addresses. An address therefore concludes each major section of the Gospel, and it is climactic. Matthew evidently used the narrative sections to introduce Jesus' discourses, which he regarded as especially important in his book. Mark, on the other hand, gave more detailed information concerning the narrative material in his Gospel. In addition to each major section, there is a prologue and an epilogue to the Gospel according to Matthew.
This phrase always occurs at the end of one of Jesus' major addresses. An address therefore concludes each major section of the Gospel, and it is climactic. Matthew evidently used the narrative sections to introduce Jesus' discourses, which he regarded as especially important in his book. Mark, on the other hand, gave more detailed information concerning the narrative material in his Gospel. In addition to each major section, there is a prologue and an epilogue to the Gospel according to Matthew.
The reactions of the King 13:54—19:2 A. Opposition, instruction, and healing 13:54—16:12
1. The opposition of the Nazarenes and Romans 13:54—14:12 2. The withdrawal to Bethsaida 14:13-33 3. The public ministry at Gennesaret 14:34-36 4. The opposition of the Pharisees and scribes 15:1-20 5. The withdrawal to Tyre and Sidon 15:21-28 6. The public ministry to Gentiles 15:29-39 7. The opposition of the Pharisees and Sadducees 16:1-12
B. Jesus' instruction of His disciples around Galilee 16:13—19:2 1.
2. 3. 4.
Instruction about the King's person 16:13-17 Instruction about the King's program 16:18—17:13 Instruction about the King's principles 17:14-27
Instruction about the King's personal representatives ch. 18
5. The transition from Galilee to Judea 19:1-2
This generally is the model that Matthew takes when laying out his Gospel account.
So I want us to keep those two things in mind. Humility and growth or maturity. I want to keep those two in the forefront of our minds as we examine this morning’s passage. And to just summarize the entire sermon for you, but the one thing I want you to keep in mind as you reflect on God’s word this week, is this: In our walk with Christ, we must never be so proud to think that we have a complete and right understanding. Additionally, we must guard ourselves from the dangers of false teaching and treasure the truth that we have been given.
Let’s get started.
Second outline points us to the need to be growing in our understanding.
Body
Body
Right off the bat, I want to address a couple of the differences that I know y’all caught when we read this passage in Matthew and Mark.
The single loaf of bread
The warning from Jesus, Mark includes the leaven of Herod
Matthew’s Gospel concludes with an explanation of Jesus’ statement, whereas Mark’s Gospel leaves it a bit open ended. In fact, we get a very odd miracle of Jesus following immediately. Jesus attempts to heal a blind man, but it takes him two tries to fully heal the man. And to hit on this one right now, Matthew and Mark have two different emphasis on including this event in their Gospels. They even portray different portraits of Jesus. This is how we can reconcile the two.
Matthew’s Gospel concludes with an explanation of Jesus’ statement, whereas Mark’s Gospel leaves it a bit open ended. In fact, we get a very odd miracle of Jesus following immediately. Jesus attempts to heal a blind man, but it takes him two tries to fully heal the man.
“ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 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.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.”
He actually commends the scribes and the pharisees to the people. Firstly, they sit on a seat not of their own, but that of Moses. A divinely appointed seat. Also, notice that Jesus exhorts them to keep what they tell them to do. They are to obey. Now this might make us scratch our heads because in chapter 15, we read of Jesus rebuking them for adding to the level of Scripture…what? Tradition. But there is a tight association here between the seat of Moses, this is the law that Moses is handing down from God to the people and not mere traditions. The great warning though is that these Pharisees and scribes do not do what is right. They do not practice what they preach.
So, then the question remains, “what teachings?” In some places, we read Jesus accepting what they teach. However, in other places, he rebukes them.
Now these differences, or so called “contradictions”, are easily reconcilable by simply showing that the exclusion of a fact does not imply a contradiction. If I say that I went to the hospital to have my child delivered and then you overhear me tell someone else that I went to the hospital with my wife, that does not mean I contradicted myself or lied. That is analogous to Matthew and Mark including or excluding phrases in their writing about the leaven of Herod.
Disciples
In Matthew’s Gospel, we read that no bread was brought. They had neglected to resupply the boat. However, in Mark’s Gospel we read that they had one loaf of bread. This is a very easy problem to resolve because in both Gospel accounts we read that the disciples had forgotten to bring with them bread, and only had one loaf of bread with them on the boat. So in their travels they had stored rations for their journeys and had forgotten to refill or restock the boat. And, because of their neglect there was only one loaf of bread remaining. Which is something we will get back to in a bit.
So having cleared up any obstacles that may be on our minds we come to the big question. What does this passage mean? And why is it important for me today?
Which is what I want you to grasp from this passage this morning. I pray that you do not, but if you zone out or doze for a bit, I want you hold on to this principle: In our walk with Christ, we must never be so proud to think that we have a complete and right understanding. Additionally, we must guard ourselves from the dangers of false teaching and treasure the truth that we have been given.
<Not a good place for this><Illustration> Termite infested home or Earlier this month, Monica and I took a tour of Philadelphia and learned more about the history of our nation and the life of our founding fathers. One fact that really struck me was a beautiful building that
Walking through the passage
Walking through the passage
Disciples
Walking through the passage
vs 5: They arrive to the other side of the sea of Galilee which would bring them to the Eastern or North Easetrn shore, traveling from Magadan on the Western side. And we sort of get a directional movement of their travel because in vs 13 we find them in Caessaria Phillippi, about 25 miles North of the Sea of Galilee.
And they discover they had forgotten to bring bread. And Jesus uses this oversight of the disciples as a teaching moment for them that they do not understand initially and they focus on the wrong things. Clearly shown in the text, Jesus was not rebuking them for not refilling their rations showing a lack of preparation and prudence. Nor is he “hangry” that they did not bring food for the journey.
And they discover they had forgotten to bring bread. In Mark’s Gospel, we read that they crossed over by boat, so this would be the other side of the sea of Galilee and not that they traveled to the other side of the Decapolis. And Jesus uses this oversight of the disciples as a teaching moment for them that they do not understand initially. Jesus does not rebuke them for not refilling their rations showing a lack of preparation and prudence. Nor is he “hangry” that they did not bring food for the journey. He is pointing them to living with prudence and preparation and trust.
vs 6: On the contrary, Jesus uses it to warn them of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees and Herod. And this is really interesting because previously Jesus spoke of leaven in positive terms. In chapter 13, He described it as the growth or expansion of the kingdom and the far reaching effects that it will have. So, sometimes leaven is used in a positive sense. But here, that is not the case. Leaven is written in a negative tone, it is something that the disciples are to be wary of. They are to be on guard against.
And he tells them to “watch”
In Greek, it is the word prosecho. And sometimes, this word can be difficult to translate because in some cases, this word means the opposite, “to pay attention to” or “to devote oneself to”. For example, in
6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
Or
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Or
3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
This word is used 24 times in the NT Scriptures, and, in Matthew’s writing, in all the cases we read of it used to mean “be wary of” or “to beware of”.
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.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
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.
vs 7: We see that the disciples just did not get it. They did not understand what it was that Jesus was talking about. They wrongly thought that Jesus was rebuking them for a lack of preparation and they set their minds on the physical. The absence of bread.
vs 8-10: So Jesus, being the perfect and masterful teacher, displays a bit of his divinity and nudges them a little to help them understand. He knew what it was that they were discussing. In both Matthew and Mark, we read that they begin to discuss among themselves. Probably a bit ashamed and embarrassed, maybe playing the blame game, “Well Judas, it was your turn to buy the bread” they begin to discuss. And Jesus reveals a bit of his omniscience as he is fully aware of what they are talking about. We have seen him even do that with the religious leaders when we read "and knowing their thoughts, Jesus said...” He has done it before and we see ti again. And what they thought was private, he makes public and he rebukes them but at the same time, gently leads them along to have a right understanding.
It is similar to what parents do with their children. You see that your child is struggling in grasping some sort of concept or maybe need a little bit of assistance in understanding, you ask them questions to help them work out the solution to the problem.
You sort of nudge your child’s thinking along perhaps with a question.
<Illustration>I remember when my niece and nephew were learning arithmetic and they just could not quite get it at first.....Maybe not the best way, I’m open to suggestions from you parents out there, we still have a year or so before we get to math.
Jesus does the same thing with five questions here in Matthew, 8 in Mark. But we will look at Matthew’s questions.
Jesus does the same thing, but being the masterful teacher that he is, his questions also bring them to a greater revelation of who Jesus is and what he is doing.
vs 8: O you of little faith....(come back to this) why are you discussing the fact you that have no bread?
So clearly, Jesus is not talking about the absence of bread. Preoccupation with the mundane and earthly can keep us from understanding what God is trying to teach us.
And they see a bit of his divinity as he displays his awareness of what they were discussing. They are reminded that Jesus is divine and knows even their private discussions. He is divine.
• False teaching can have subtle but profound effects if it gets a foothold in our hearts
And they see a bit of his divinity as he has an awareness what they were discussing. They are reminded that Jesus is divine and knows even their private discussions. He is divine.
vs 9a: Do you not yet perceive? In Mark’s Gospel, we read this question more strongly in three questions: “Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?”
It is not just a matter of comprehension. It is also a matter of remembrance. And this too the disciples failed at. They did not understand what Jesus was telling them and they had failed to remember what Christ had done.
Additionally, they needed to move beyond the literallThis man teaches with authority.
This would bring them to recall the teachings of Jesus and would connect us back to vs 8 on their little faith, or what Mark describes as them having hardened hearts. They needed to increase in their understanding.
They had failed to understand Jesus and have even failed to understand the lesson of the miracles of the feedings. To be the ones he described in chapter 13 as the blessed ones, the ones who do see and do hear, they needed to grow in faith. They needed to shift their focus from the physical and see that Jesus was aiming to teach them spiritual lessons and deal with them on a spiritual level. And we are very much like that, oriented to the physical, maybe right now you were looking at the bulletin and feeling the hunger pangs for lunch, worrying about dinner tonight, or a last minute errand you need to run. We tend to view things physically, when, as those who have been saved by grace, we ought to have spiritual sight. Eyes to see and ears to hear.
We can often set our eyes on earthly things, when we do so we begin to accumulate and store up earthly treasures, and Jesus is nudging them and guiding them away from those things and towards spiritual things.
To see what sort of man this was which the winds and waves obeyed. This man who teaches with authority from above.
vs 9b-10: Two questions (tied to above), both not necessarily Jesus’ way of pointing them to the answer, but pointing them away from their current thinking and reinforcing a previous lesson.
They needed to be reminded that Jesus can produce enough food to feed all of them and to satisfy them in excess with even a single loaf of bread. In the feeding of the 5,000, they thought it was impossible. With the crowd of 4,000, they still had that same mindset. And even here, they had not fully learned. They were so busy thinking about their empty belly’s they forgot all about God’s provision. What he did for the 5,000 and the 4,000, could he not do for himself and the disciples with one loaf of bread?
Jesus can provide for them. They needed to grow their little faith and trust that Jesus is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He can provide for them physically, and they will need to see that he can provide for them more than that. That he is the promised Messiah. The suffering servant, the cloud rider and son of man that Daniel spoke of. He can provide and be all sufficient for their deepest need.
vs 11: The final question, to make things absolutely clear to them, he says “I am not talking about bread!” “How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread?” And he repeats the same warning, “beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees”
vs 12: We see that the disciples get it. It clicks in their minds. They know that he was not talking about the leaven of bread, but of the teachings they bring. It may seem so subtle and perhaps innocent and good their teachings, but the insidious effect of these teachings reveals a heart that truly is rebelling against the Lord, a heart with unbelief.
The teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Well which ones? Jesus for sure does not mean all of them. How do we know that?
1 In these circumstances, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to His disciples first: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
1 In these circumstances, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to His disciples first: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 “And I say to you, My friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.
And we
This discourse we read between Jesus and the disciples follows a confrontation of the Pharisees and the Sadduccees against Jesus. They had come to him asking for a sign. And we might not think initially that that is such a bad thing. It may appear like they are being sincere and commendable. Think about it, we all should test those who claim to be God. However, the main issue was not that they were testing Christ, but that they ignored all the signs that pointed to Him being the Messiah.
Think about it, we all should test those who claim to be God. However, the main issue was not that they were testing Christ, but that they ignored all the signs that pointed to Him being the Messiah.
They had completely ignored and disregarded the very real and irrefutable claims that he had made to his divinity, that attested to who He was and is. In both Mark’s Gospel and in Matthew’s Gospel, we see that this confrontation precedes his leaving them, departing from them. And it was not because he was fed up with them and tired of debating them.
In , we read how “he sighed deeply in his spirit”. He was deeply sorrowful for these men who held the title of being teachers. The people he had come to save, and yet they refused to be gathered to him. They demanded a sign. Which really showed their unbelief...
If we ask for a sign, we will need further signs...
<Illustration> Wonder- Book, dragon, girl, door.
We need more convincing and it takes more to awe us or convince us and their demand for a sign revealed their utter rejection of him.
Really, this was an opposition by the religious leaders to the person of Jesus Christ. They had great anger and hostility towards him, opposing him and seeking to trap him, and even failing to perceive who he is. This is the warning that Jesus gives to the disciples, and is not a warning that only applies to those days, but is for us today. Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
The teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Well which ones? Jesus for sure does not mean all of them. How do we know that?
“ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 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.”
He actually commends the scribes and the pharisees to the people. Firstly, they sit on a seat not of their own, but that of Moses. A divinely appointed seat. Also, notice that Jesus exhorts them to keep what they tell them to do. They are to obey.
Now this might make us scratch our heads because in chapter 15, we read of Jesus rebuking them for adding to the level of Scripture…what? Tradition. But there is a tight association here between the seat of Moses, this is the law that Moses is handing down from God to the people and not mere traditions. The great warning though is that these Pharisees and scribes do not do what is right. They do not practice what they preach.
So, then the question remains, “what teachings?” In some places, we read Jesus accepting what they teach. However, in other places, he rebukes them.
Unbelievers: Do not think that your worldview contains a good grasp of life, existence, purpose.
Unbelievers: Do not think that your worldview contains a good grasp of life, existence, purpose.
Fathers and Mothers: You must especially guard yourselves, for you are teaching your children. Do not be guilty of having yeast sprinkled into your teaching.
Employees of a Business: There is a temptation to think that your work is separate from your faith. And maybe you will cut corners and/or live in a harsh and unloving manner to your employees or co-workers. You also teach by your living. Be on guard.
Believers (General-outward): We must be careful with the teachings we open ourselves to and the teachers we listen to. There may be a veneer of holiness in the people we listen to, but their teachings threatens the very core of the faith.
Believers (General-inward): We must be careful with the teachings we present. Does it align with God’s revealed word. Or do we too often lean on impulses or visions, etc. We too can be teachers with leaven.
eneral-inward): We must be careful with the teachings we present. Does it align with God’s revealed word. Or do we too often lean on impulses or visions, etc. We too can be teachers with leaven.
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This passage follows the previous four verses where we read of a confrontation of the Pharisees and the Sadduccees against Jesus. They had come to him asking for a sign. And we might not think initially that that is such a bad thing. It may appear like they are being sincere, and this might be t
This passage follows the previous four verses where we read of a confrontation of the Pharisees and the Sadduccees against Jesus. They had come to him asking for a sign. And we might not think initially that that is such a bad thing. It may appear like they are being sincere, and this might be t
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus in order to test him. Now it is not necessarily a bad thing for them to test him. Think about it, we all should test those who claim to be God. However, the main issue was not that they were testing Christ, but that they ignored all the signs that pointed to Him being the Messiah.
They had completely ignored and disregarded the very real and irrefutable claims that he had made to his divinity. In both Mark’s Gospel and in Matthew’s Gospel, we see that this confrontation precedes his leaving the area. And it was not because he was fed up with them and tired of debating them. Although in , we read how “he sighed deeply in his spirit”. He was deeply sorrowful for these men who claimed to be teachers. The people he had come to save, and yet they refused to be gathered to him.
But not just a warning against what is taught with their lives, but what is taught with their words.
And aware of this, here a glimpse into the deity of Jesus (His awareness) he speaks strongly to them. “Oh you of little faith”. Now let’s just camp right here for a little bit. What does this have to do with anything? Why is Jesus connecting faith, with the absence of bread?
Well firstly, in mark’s Gospel we read that they do have one loaf of bread. What can Jesus do with a single loaf of bread? It is a safe bet that he could do the exact same thing that he did in chapter 14, when he fed the 5,000,leaving 12 baskets full of leftover. Or chapter 15, where we read that he fed the 4,000 and had 7 baskets leftover. The issue here then is not merely physical food and sustenance. Jesus is not hangry!
In and in , we read of two miraculous occasions. Jesus multiplies the food.
It wwasLeaving the Pharisees
In and in , we read of two miraculous occasions. Jesus multiplies the food.
In and in , we read of two miraculous occasions. Jesus multiplies the food.
When we consider the teachings of the pharisees, we see that they had elevated tradition to equality and, in some cases, as greater than Scripture. But the leaven or teaching of pharisees was not just that they had unbelief or that they had added works to salvation, it was not just this elevation of tradition that they are to be warned of, but of the hypocrisy with which they lived.
1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Refer to and how they sit in the seat of Moses, but are hypocrites.
For the Sadducees, we see that these teachers denied immortality and against spiritual things, such as angels. If we throw in Mark’s Gospel, the warning against the leaven of Herod would be this lusting after power and a distrust and elevation of self over God in power.
So the warning is clear, and I think the lesson is clear as well. As disciples....
This means we must have humility. In our walk with Christ, we must never be so proud to think that we have a complete understanding. That we are there and never going to fall (). Even the disciples showed that were too focused on the material things of this world and even having walked with Jesus for so long, they still did not have understanding. With humility, we can all admit that we are limited.
Even Satan had faith, although misplaced, that Jesus could create bread. You will recall in the fourth chapter when Satan challenges/ tempts Jesus to turn the stones into bread. This was no issue.
And there will be many times in our lives when we will experience limitations in our understanding which might cause us to overlook very real dangers in this world. The danger with this is we can even grow in apathy towards the danger of false doctrines.
Additionally, we must guard ourselves from the dangers of false teaching and treasure the truth that we have been given. We must guard against false teachings. Like yeast, it may be small and what we think of as insignificant, but it can grow and take deep root in our lives to lead us astray. This will not hurt me or my ministry or my life or family or job.....
Jerome in his Commentary on Matthew said “Leaven has this power, that, if mixed with flour, that which seemed small would grow into something larger and draw to its own essence the whole loaf. So too with heretical doctrine, if it tosses even a tiny spark into your heart, in a short time a huge flame grows beneath and draws to itself a person’s entire substance.”
----We are like this aren’t we? God delivers us through a situation and when we encounter another one, “woe is me, who can save me?” God can! This is partly why the Israelites needed to continually remind themselves of the work that Jesus had done. He is able to provide, guide, protect His people. We too often forget this truth.
27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?
But in vs 11, we see the point of the matter. He is not talking about bread, but the “leaven of the pharisees and sadducees” which they come to understand is their teachings!
So we must guard ourselves from the dangers in this world by treasuring the truth that we have been given and growing in understanding. I do want to give a caution on this growth though. We can grow in the content, but we must also grow on to our convictions. We must guard against
In our walk with Christ, we must never be so proud to think that we have a complete understanding. But we must guard ourselves from the dangers in this world and treasure the truth that we have been given.
13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.
The teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Well which ones? Jesus for sure does not mean all of them. How do we know that?
And there is a danger if we do not guard against it. It can be so subtle and difficult to detect, but we are called to be on guard. To beware...
4 For some men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
“ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 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.”
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
How are we to do this? I offer a couple tips:
Test the teaching
1 Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for them to observe. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.
11 Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” 18 And she did this for many days.
But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.
19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”
22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”
29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.
35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men!”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!”
38 Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.
1 Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for them to observe. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.
11 Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” 18 And she did this for many days.
But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.
19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”
22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”
29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.
35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men!”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!”
38 Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
1 Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.
5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus!” 8 The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. 9 So taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that God’s message had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?”
Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.
19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of? 20 For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
22 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:
TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it —He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” 33 Then Paul left their presence. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
1 Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.
5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus!” 8 The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. 9 So taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that God’s message had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?”
Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.
19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of? 20 For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
22 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:
TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it —He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.
30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” 33 Then Paul left their presence. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
acts 16
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2. Hold fast to God’s Word
He actually commends the scribes and the pharisees to the people. Firstly, they sit on a seat not of their own, but that of Moses. A divinely appointed seat. Also, notice that Jesus exhorts them to keep what they tell them to do. They are to obey. Now this might make us scratch our heads because in chapter 15, we read of Jesus rebuking them for adding to the level of Scripture…what? Tradition. But there is a tight association here between the seat of Moses, this is the law that Moses is handing down from God to the people and not mere traditions. The great warning though is that these Pharisees and scribes do not do what is right. They do not practice what they preach.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the promise of life in Christ Jesus:
2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, 5 clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also.
6 Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.
9 He has saved us and called us
with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began.
10 This has now been made evident
through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,
who has abolished death
and has brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel.
11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you. 15 This you know: All those in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from Him on that day. And you know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
2 tim 1
So, then the question remains, “what teachings?” In some places, we read Jesus accepting what they teach. However, in other places, he rebukes them.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Unbelievers: Do not think that your worldview contains a good grasp of life, existence, purpose. We learn that we need to have humility that we do not understand everything. We are not there and science will not get us there. Nor will experience or societal norms. Our eyes must shift from the material, like the disciples looking on the material bread, and we focus on our eyes on Christ. Looking to the word for truth and wisdom. Just as the Sadducees had a low view on spiritual matters, do not let their leaven lead you astray. They denied the resurrection and angels, let not that leaven instruct you.
Solomon wrote correctly when he said that there is nothing new under the sun. Just as the Pharisees and the Sadducees sought after a sign, so too are people searching for a sign. And when one is given, they rationalize it away as mere coincidence, or say that science can explain it or that it was this person who actually did or anything else. And the problem is not a lack of evidence, but a lack of faith and a hardness in the heart. They are receptive to creation, but have forgotten creator.
Unbelievers: Do not think that your worldview contains a good grasp of life, existence, purpose. We learn that we need to have humility that we do not understand everything. We are not there and science will not get us there. Nor will experience or societal norms. Our eyes must shift from the material, like the disciples looking on the material bread, and we focus our eyes on Christ. Looking to the word for truth and wisdom. Just as the Sadducees had a low view on spiritual matters, do not let their leaven lead you astray. They denied the resurrection and angels, let not that leaven instruct you.
Unbelievers: Do not think that your worldview contains a good grasp of life, existence, purpose. We learn that we need to have humility that we do not understand everything. We are not there and science will not get us there. Nor will experience or societal norms. Our eyes must shift from the material, like the disciples looking on the material bread, and we focus on our eyes on Christ. Looking to the word for truth and wisdom. Just as the Sadducees had a low view on spiritual matters, do not let their leaven lead you astray. They denied the resurrection and angels, let not that leaven instruct you.
It reminds me of the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. They asked for a sign and one was given. Or of Moses and Pharaoh, and we see what came of that. He would continue to harden his heart so much so that he ignored the clear and evident signs. And of Lazarus and the rich man. Even if a man were to rise from the dead, his 5 brothers and father would still not believe.
Ravi Zacharias made a great claim when he once said, “it is strange that those who claim to have had a supernatural experience are the ones who have the least amount of change in their lives.” What he was saying was that those who base their entire faith and belief in God on a single supernatural event, they may easily rationalize it away and return to their old way of living. And so, what are we to do? Beware the yeast of those who claim to know a lot. Those who claim to have much knowledge and wisdom of this world, yet are blind and cannot see.
Content without conviction is nothing. So many affirm the content, but lack the conviction. Content is important, but without conviction it is useless.
Let me tell you a story of a country bumkin sort of fellow that I heard from ravi Zacharias speaking on this man who wanted to enter into ministry and become a preacher. And so he goes into an interview, and in this interview the interviewer says “well sam, please let me know how much you know about the Scriptures. And why don’t you start by telling me the story of the good Samaritan?”
And he says, “I will. Yes sir, I will, I will. There once was a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked him. And as he went on, he didn’t have any money. And he met the queen of sheba and she gave him 1,000 talents of gold and 100 changes of clothing. And he got into a chariot and he drove furiously and when he was driving under a big juniper tree, his hair caught onto a limb of that tree and he hung there for many days and many nights. And the ravens fed him and brought him water to drink. And he ate 5000 loaves of bread and two fishes. One night he was hanging there he fell asleep, and his wife Delilah came and cut his hair. And he dropped and fell on stony ground, but he got up and went on. And it began to rain, and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and he hid himself in a cave and lived on locust and wild honey. Then he went on until he met a servant who said, ‘come take supper at my house.” And he made an excuse and said ‘no, I wont I have married a wife and I cannot go.’
And the servant went out on the highways and the byways and compelled him to come in. After supper he went on and came down into Jericho and when he got there he saw that old queen, queen jezebel. Sitting way up high on a window. And she laughed at him and he said ‘throw her down from there.’ And they threw her down out there. And he said, ‘throw her down again’ and they threw her down again seventy times seven.
And of the fragments that remained they picked up 12 baskets full besides women and children. And they said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, piece.’ Now who’s wife do you think she will be there on that judgment day?
Well you can tell that this man read a lot. Content is good. Content is vital, but oh how important it is to have that content seeped in conviction and clear understanding.
Unbelievers: Do not think that your worldview contains a good grasp of life, existence, purpose.
Fathers and Mothers: You must especially guard yourselves, for you are teaching your children. Do not be guilty of having yeast sprinkled into your teaching. The leaven of Herod was in his wealth and power. Do not be overlords to them.
Employees of a Business: There is a temptation to think that your work is separate from your faith. And maybe you will cut corners and/or live in a harsh and unloving manner to your employees or co-workers. You also teach by your living. Be on guard. Just as the pharisees were marked by their hypocrisy, may that leaven not be evident in you.
Believers (General-outward): We must be careful with the teachings we open ourselves to and the teachers we listen to. There may be a veneer of holiness,a facade that is put up to mask its reality. Be wary of the the people we listen to, especially if their teachings threatens the very core of the faith. False teaching can have subtle but profound effects if it gets a foothold in our hearts.
Believers (General-inward): We must be careful with the teachings we present. Does it align with God’s revealed word. Or do we too often lean on impulses or visions, etc. We too can be teachers with leaven.
Confidence
Conviction
Conduct
And so Jesus, tells his disciples and he tells us, let him who has eyes see. Let him who has ears hear.
And so Jesus, tells his disciples and he tells us, let him who has eyes see. Let him who has ears hear.
leaven In the context of the Passover, leaven symbolizes all that must be removed from Israel when the nation transfers its allegiance from Pharaoh to God (; ).
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 8
leaven In the context of the Passover, leaven symbolizes all that must be removed from Israel when the nation transfers its allegiance from Pharaoh to God (Exod 12:15–20; Deut 16:3–4).
Here, the Pharisees and Herod are obstacles to the kingdom. Jesus might be warning the disciples against requesting a sign to bolster their faith, as the Pharisees had just done
effect
Here, the Pharisees and Herod are obstacles to the kingdom. Jesus might be warning the disciples against requesting a sign to bolster their faith, as the Pharisees had just done
Here, the Pharisees and Herod are obstacles to the kingdom. Jesus might be warning the disciples against requesting a sign to bolster their faith, as the Pharisees had just done
He had performed many miracles and wonders. And when Christ performed these miracles, they would attribute them to the power of Satan. Jesus saw the hardness of their heart and refused to give them further proof of His identity.
They came asking for a sign showing a complete disregard to all of the signs that had pointed to Him being the Messiah. What were the signs of the times that Israel's religious leaders failed to read? John the Baptist's appearance and preaching were two. John had told these leaders that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of Messiah's forerunner (; ). Jesus had also identified John as the forerunner (11:14). Jesus' works were another sign that the King had arrived, and Jesus had pointed this out (12:28). Finally the prophecy of Daniel's 69 weeks should have alerted these students of the Old Testament to the fact that Messiah's appearance was near (; cf. ; ).
They came asking for a sign showing a complete disregard to all of the signs that had pointed to Him being the Messiah. What were the signs of the times that Israel's religious leaders failed to read? John the Baptist's appearance and preaching were two. John had told these leaders that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of Messiah's forerunner (; ). Jesus had also identified John as the forerunner (11:14). Jesus' works were another sign that the King had arrived, and Jesus had pointed this out (12:28). Finally the prophecy of Daniel's 69 weeks should have alerted these students of the Old Testament to the fact that Messiah's appearance was near (; cf. ; ).
He had performed many miracles and wonders. And when Christ performed these miracles, they would attribute them to the power of Satan. Jesus saw the hardness of their heart and refused to give them further proof of His identity.
He had performed many miracles and wonders. And when Christ performed these miracles, they would attribute them to the power of Satan. Jesus saw the hardness of their heart and refused to give them further proof of His identity.
And so Jesus, tells his disciples and he tells us, let him who has eyes see. Let him who has ears hear.
The “sign of Jonah” would turn out to be Jesus’ greatest miracle of all. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead would be God’s chief sign that Jesus was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah () and establish Christ’s claims to deity ().
Jesus clearly had the confrontation in his head and used it as a teachable moment for his disciples. They would have to come to trust him as the bread of life, but more than that, they should be wary of false teachings.
We live in a day and age where everyone has questions. Unfortunately, we have become so wrapped into this world, many people want to have this world explain what is not of this world. They seek to be convinced. They are asking for a sign. And when that is the case, it shows their denial of the sign that has already been given. Christ’s resurrection is enough. His Word is enough. When we struggle with issues we should delve deeper into the riches of His word. As we seek to do His will, we should dive deeper into His word.
Solomon wrote correctly when he said that there is nothing new under the sun. Just as the Pharisees and the Sadducees sought after a sign, so too are people searching for a sign. And when one is given, they rationalize it away as mere coincidence, or say that science can explain it or that it was this person who actually did or anything else. And the problem is not a lack of evidence, but a lack of faith and a hardness in the heart. They are receptive to creation, but have forgotten creator.
It reminds me of the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. They asked for a sign and one was given. Or of Moses and Pharaoh and we see what came of that. He would continue to harden his heart so much so that he ignored the clear and evident signs. And of Lazarus and the rich man. Even if a man were to rise from the dead, his 5 brothers and father would still not believe.
Ravi Zacharias made a great claim when he once said, “it is strange that those who claim to have had a supernatural experience or the ones who have the least amount of change in their lives.” What he was saying was that those who base their entire faith and belief in God on a single supernatural event, they may easily rationalize it away and return to their old way of living. And so, what are we to do? Beware the yeast of those who claim to know a lot. Those who claim to have much knowledge and wisdom of this world, yet are blind and cannot see.
And so Jesus, tells his disciples and he tells us, let him who has eyes see. Let him who has ears hear.
Prayer
Prayer
rejection of Her King.
• False teaching can have subtle but profound effects if it gets a foothold in our hearts
section, there is a prologue and an epilogue to the Gospel according to Matthew.
The reactions of the King 13:54—19:2 A. Opposition, instruction, and healing 13:54—16:12
1. The opposition of the Nazarenes and Romans 13:54—14:12 2. The withdrawal to Bethsaida 14:13-33 3. The public ministry at Gennesaret 14:34-36 4. The opposition of the Pharisees and scribes 15:1-20 5. The withdrawal to Tyre and Sidon 15:21-28 6. The public ministry to Gentiles 15:29-39 7. The opposition of the Pharisees and Sadducees 16:1-12
B. Jesus' instruction of His disciples around Galilee 16:13—19:2 1.
2. 3. 4.
Instruction about the King's person 16:13-17 Instruction about the King's program 16:18—17:13 Instruction about the King's principles 17:14-27
Instruction about the King's personal representatives ch. 18
5. The transition from Galilee to Judea 19:1-2
Prayer
Weber, S. K. (2000). Matthew (Vol. 1, p. 258). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Lord, we praise you for who you are. Thank you for revealing yourself to us. Grant us the strength to be obedient to our calling as Christians so that we can bear witness to your faithfulness, even in the midst of life’s trials. Amen.
Let me tell you a story of a country bumkin sort of fellow that I heard from ravi Zacharias speaking on this man who wanted to enter into ministry and become a preacher. And so he goes into an interview, and in this interview the interviewer says “well sam, please let me know how much you know about the Scriptures. And in so telling me how much you know, why don’t you tell me the story of the good Samaritan?”
And he says, “I will. Yes sir, I will, I will. There once was a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked him. And as he went on, he didn’t have any money. And he met the queen of sheba and she gave him 1,000 talents of gold and 100 changes of rament. And he got into a chariot and he drove furiously and when he was driving under a big juniper tree, his hair caught onto a limb of that tree and he hung there for many days and many nights. And the ravens fed him and brought him water to drink. And he ate 5000 loaves of bread and two fishes. One night he was hanging there he fell asleep, and his wife Delilah came and cut his hair. And he dropped and fell on stony ground, but he got up and went on. And it began to rain, and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and he hid himself in a cave and lived on locust and wild honey. Then he went on until he met a servant who said, ‘come take supper at my house.” And he made an excuse and said ‘no, I wont I have married a wife and I cannot go.’
Weber, S. K. (2000). Matthew (Vol. 1, p. 260). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew Principles
Preoccupation with the mundane and earthly can keep us from understanding what God is trying to teach us.
• False teaching can have subtle but profound effects if it gets a foothold in our hearts
And the servant went out on the highways and the hedges and compelled him to come in. After supper he went on and come down into Jericho and when he got there he saw that old queen, queen jezebel. Sitting way up high on a window. And she laughed at him and he said ‘throw her down from there.’ And they threw her down out there. And he said, ‘throw her down again’ and they threw her down again seventy times seven.
And of the fragments that remained they picked up 12 baskets full besides women and children. And they said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, piece.’ Now who’s wife do you think she will be there on that judgment day?
Well you can tell that this man read a lot. Content is good. Content is vital, but oh how important it is to have that content seeped in conviction.
We live in a day and age where everyone has questions. Unfortunately, we have become so wrapped up with this world, many people want to have this world explain what is not of this world. They seek to be convinced. They are asking for a sign. And when that is the case, it shows their denial of the sign that has already been given. Christ’s resurrection is enough. His Word is enough. When we struggle with issues we should delve deeper into the riches of His word. As we seek to do His will, we should dive deeper into His word.
Solomon wrote correctly when he said that there is nothing new under the sun. Just as the Pharisees and the Sadducees sought after a sign, so too are people searching for a sign. And when one is given, they rationalize it away as mere coincidence, or say that science can explain it or that it was this person who actually did or anything else. And the problem is not a lack of evidence, but a lack of faith and a hardness in the heart. They are receptive to creation, but have forgotten creator.
It reminds me of the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. They asked for a sign and one was given. Or of Moses and Pharaoh, and we see what came of that. He would continue to harden his heart so much so that he ignored the clear and evident signs. And of Lazarus and the rich man. Even if a man were to rise from the dead, his 5 brothers and father would still not believe.
Ravi Zacharias made a great claim when he once said, “it is strange that those who claim to have had a supernatural experience are the ones who have the least amount of change in their lives.” What he was saying was that those who base their entire faith and belief in God on a single supernatural event, they may easily rationalize it away and return to their old way of living. And so, what are we to do? Beware the yeast of those who claim to know a lot. Those who claim to have much knowledge and wisdom of this world, yet are blind and cannot see.