Matthew 16:1-12

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 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. 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.

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 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.

(ESV)

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The Pharisees and Sadducees come again to Jesus demanding to see a sign. This is similar to the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 12:38-40. Jesus points to their ability to predict the weather based on the look of the sky and yet they were unable to recognise that Messiah was with them based on the signs He had already performed. They didn’t need any further signs except the “sign of Jonah.” Just as Johah was in the fish for three days and then came out, so Jesus would be in the tomb three days and then rise again. Some people continue to ask for more and more evidence before they are willing to believe in Jesus. But God has provided sufficient evidence. It will always require faith. But it’s not blind faith.

Jesus left the religious leaders behind and went across the sea again. Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Because they had forgotten to bring along any bread they thought Jesus was talking about their lack of bread. Their faith is still lacking because they are worried about their next meal. But Jesus reminds them that He has recently performed two enormous miracles providing meals for thousands. They did not need to worry about going hungry. Jesus made it clear that He was warning them about the danger that the false teaching of the religious leaders would have because, like leaven, it would spread through everything (see 1 Cor 5:6-8). False and corrupt teaching seems to corrupt the truth far more easily than truth pushes out error. We must be so careful to hold on to the truth and avoid false teaching. The better you know truth, the easier it is to spot error.