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 16:8-12
Key Thought
Jesus did get frustrated with his disciples; he just didn't give up on them! That means that he was involved with them and helped them grow. Indeed, he reached back into their experience and helped them understand their blindness and lack of faith more clearly while driving home his point of concern: be warned about the Pharisees and Sadducees; their teaching is dangerous! In addition, they should have clearly learned by now that they could depend upon him for food.
In dealing with people who don't understand, I find we fail because we don't have the relationship with them to know them and their history enough to help change them
— we tend to lose patience when people don't get it the first or second time—we get caught up in the argument and the frustration and we forget the main point in the first place.
Today's Prayer
Holy God, help me be more patient with others who are confused, who do dumb things spiritually, and who ask the same questions again and again. Please help me deal with others in the way you have dealt with me when I've been slow to understand and foolish in my choice of behaviors. 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
"So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live. And don't worry about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more important than food. And the body is more important than clothes. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or save food in barns. But your heavenly Father feeds those birds. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. God clothes the grass in the field like that. That grass is living today, but tomorrow it is thrown into the fire to be burned. So you know that God will clothe you much more. Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' All the people that don't know God try to get these things. Don't worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need these things. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing the good things God wants you to do. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. — Matthew 6:25-27, 30-33
My little children, again I feel pain for you like a mother feels when she gives birth. I will feel this until you truly become like Christ. I wish I could be with you now. Then maybe I could change the way I am talking to you. Now I don't know what to do about you. — Galatians 4:19-20
Then the followers came to Jesus and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees are angry because of what you said?" Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in heaven has not planted himself will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from the Pharisees. They lead the people, but they are like blind men leading other blind men. And if a blind man leads another blind man, then both men will fall into a hole." — Matthew 15:12-14
Ⓒ 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.
View the full article
—Matthew 16:8-12
Key Thought
Jesus did get frustrated with his disciples; he just didn't give up on them! That means that he was involved with them and helped them grow. Indeed, he reached back into their experience and helped them understand their blindness and lack of faith more clearly while driving home his point of concern: be warned about the Pharisees and Sadducees; their teaching is dangerous! In addition, they should have clearly learned by now that they could depend upon him for food.
In dealing with people who don't understand, I find we fail because we don't have the relationship with them to know them and their history enough to help change them
— we tend to lose patience when people don't get it the first or second time—we get caught up in the argument and the frustration and we forget the main point in the first place.
Today's Prayer
Holy God, help me be more patient with others who are confused, who do dumb things spiritually, and who ask the same questions again and again. Please help me deal with others in the way you have dealt with me when I've been slow to understand and foolish in my choice of behaviors. 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
"So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live. And don't worry about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more important than food. And the body is more important than clothes. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or save food in barns. But your heavenly Father feeds those birds. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. God clothes the grass in the field like that. That grass is living today, but tomorrow it is thrown into the fire to be burned. So you know that God will clothe you much more. Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' All the people that don't know God try to get these things. Don't worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need these things. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing the good things God wants you to do. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. — Matthew 6:25-27, 30-33
My little children, again I feel pain for you like a mother feels when she gives birth. I will feel this until you truly become like Christ. I wish I could be with you now. Then maybe I could change the way I am talking to you. Now I don't know what to do about you. — Galatians 4:19-20
Then the followers came to Jesus and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees are angry because of what you said?" Jesus answered, "Every plant that my Father in heaven has not planted himself will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from the Pharisees. They lead the people, but they are like blind men leading other blind men. And if a blind man leads another blind man, then both men will fall into a hole." — Matthew 15:12-14
Ⓒ 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.
