Jesus and his followers went across the lake (Lake Galilee). But the followers forgot to bring bread. Jesus said to the followers, "Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." The followers discussed the meaning of this. They said, "Did Jesus say this because we forgot to bring bread?"
—Matthew 16:5-7
Key Thought
Sometimes I just don't understand how Jesus put up with them. The religious leaders were THE issue in his recent encounters with the crowds. They give Jesus a hard time. They try to test and entrap him. They are hypocritical. They are not looking for the truth. They are more concerned about the minutiae of their traditional law than they are the will of God or the needs of his people. But the disciples just don't get it. Their concern is their belly. They can't hear the deep things of God for being consumed by the growling in their guts.
But about the time I think, "How stupid can they be?" I remember myself and my short-sightedness and my weakness and my inability to see, hear, and understand the most simple and plain things about the Lord. I am indeed thankful that he is gracious. But then, that brings me back to the hypocritical religious leaders: I must avoid them, because they are not gracious since they don't know God, just their traditional law.
Today's Prayer
Give me a heart that is humble and tolerant, Almighty God. I recognize this weakness in my own character: I can see the faults in others more clearly than I can see the ones in my own life. Give me more holy insight into my own heart so that I may fully yield it to your control. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus. They wanted to test Jesus. So they asked Jesus to show them a miracle to prove that he was from God. Jesus answered, "When you people see the sunset, you know what the weather will be. If the sky is red, then you say we will have good weather. And in the morning you watch the sunrise. If the sky is dark and red, then you say that it will be a rainy day. These things are signs of the weather. You see these signs in the sky and you know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that are happening now. These things are also signs. But you don't know the meaning of these signs. Evil and sinful people are the kind of people that want a miracle for a sign (proof). But those people will have no sign—only the sign of Jonah. " Then Jesus left that place and went away. Jesus and his followers went across the lake (Lake Galilee). But the followers forgot to bring bread. Jesus said to the followers, "Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. " The followers discussed the meaning of this. They said, "Did Jesus say this because we forgot to bring bread?" Jesus knew that the followers were talking about this. So Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about not having bread? Your faith is small. You still don't understand? Remember the five loaves of bread that fed the 5,000 people? And remember that you filled many baskets {with bread after the people finished eating}? And remember the seven loaves of bread that fed the 4,000 people? Remember that you filled many baskets {with bread after the people finished eating}? So I was not talking to you about bread. Why don't you understand that? I am telling you to be careful and guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. " Then the followers understood what Jesus meant. Jesus was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread. Jesus was telling them to guard against the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.Matthew 16:1-12
Related Scripture Readings
Be careful that no person fails to get God's grace (kindness). Be careful that no person becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. A person like that can ruin your whole group. Be careful that no person does sexual sin. And be careful that no person is like Esau and never thinks about God. Esau was the oldest son and he would have inherited (received) everything from his father. But Esau sold all that for a single meal. You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to get his father's blessing. Esau wanted that blessing so much that he cried. But his father refused to give him the blessing, because Esau could find no way to change the thing he had done. — Hebrews 12:15-17
Brothers and sisters, all of you should try to live like me. And copy those people who live the way we showed you. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about these people. And it makes me cry to tell you about them now. The way these people live is leading them to destruction. They don't serve God. Those people live only to please themselves. They do shameful things, and they are proud of those things. They think only about earthly things. — Philippians 3:17-19
What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst of those sinners. But I was given mercy. I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners. Christ wanted me to be an example for those people who would believe in him and have life forever. — 1 Timothy 1:15-16
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 16:5-7
Key Thought
Sometimes I just don't understand how Jesus put up with them. The religious leaders were THE issue in his recent encounters with the crowds. They give Jesus a hard time. They try to test and entrap him. They are hypocritical. They are not looking for the truth. They are more concerned about the minutiae of their traditional law than they are the will of God or the needs of his people. But the disciples just don't get it. Their concern is their belly. They can't hear the deep things of God for being consumed by the growling in their guts.
But about the time I think, "How stupid can they be?" I remember myself and my short-sightedness and my weakness and my inability to see, hear, and understand the most simple and plain things about the Lord. I am indeed thankful that he is gracious. But then, that brings me back to the hypocritical religious leaders: I must avoid them, because they are not gracious since they don't know God, just their traditional law.
Today's Prayer
Give me a heart that is humble and tolerant, Almighty God. I recognize this weakness in my own character: I can see the faults in others more clearly than I can see the ones in my own life. Give me more holy insight into my own heart so that I may fully yield it to your control. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus. They wanted to test Jesus. So they asked Jesus to show them a miracle to prove that he was from God. Jesus answered, "When you people see the sunset, you know what the weather will be. If the sky is red, then you say we will have good weather. And in the morning you watch the sunrise. If the sky is dark and red, then you say that it will be a rainy day. These things are signs of the weather. You see these signs in the sky and you know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that are happening now. These things are also signs. But you don't know the meaning of these signs. Evil and sinful people are the kind of people that want a miracle for a sign (proof). But those people will have no sign—only the sign of Jonah. " Then Jesus left that place and went away. Jesus and his followers went across the lake (Lake Galilee). But the followers forgot to bring bread. Jesus said to the followers, "Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. " The followers discussed the meaning of this. They said, "Did Jesus say this because we forgot to bring bread?" Jesus knew that the followers were talking about this. So Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about not having bread? Your faith is small. You still don't understand? Remember the five loaves of bread that fed the 5,000 people? And remember that you filled many baskets {with bread after the people finished eating}? And remember the seven loaves of bread that fed the 4,000 people? Remember that you filled many baskets {with bread after the people finished eating}? So I was not talking to you about bread. Why don't you understand that? I am telling you to be careful and guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. " Then the followers understood what Jesus meant. Jesus was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread. Jesus was telling them to guard against the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.Matthew 16:1-12
Related Scripture Readings
Be careful that no person fails to get God's grace (kindness). Be careful that no person becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. A person like that can ruin your whole group. Be careful that no person does sexual sin. And be careful that no person is like Esau and never thinks about God. Esau was the oldest son and he would have inherited (received) everything from his father. But Esau sold all that for a single meal. You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to get his father's blessing. Esau wanted that blessing so much that he cried. But his father refused to give him the blessing, because Esau could find no way to change the thing he had done. — Hebrews 12:15-17
Brothers and sisters, all of you should try to live like me. And copy those people who live the way we showed you. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about these people. And it makes me cry to tell you about them now. The way these people live is leading them to destruction. They don't serve God. Those people live only to please themselves. They do shameful things, and they are proud of those things. They think only about earthly things. — Philippians 3:17-19
What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst of those sinners. But I was given mercy. I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners. Christ wanted me to be an example for those people who would believe in him and have life forever. — 1 Timothy 1:15-16
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
