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?”
22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The Pharisees come to Jesus and they want to see a sign to validate His ministry. Not only had they completely ignored all the signs He had shown them but they had attributed His miracles to Satan (Mark 3:22). From this point Jesus was not going to show further signs. Jesus would continue to perform miracles, but only in response to faith.
Once again they find themselves in a boat and Jesus uses the opportunity to warn the disciples that the Pharisees and Herodians are like leaven. Their teaching has an infectious quality that can affect everyone (1 Cor 5:6). The disciples hear leaven and think bread. They miss Jesus’ point and are concerned that they haven’t brought enough bread with them. Jesus points out their spiritual misperception. Were they not there when He fed the five thousand from just five loaves with twelve baskets left over and when He fed the four thousand from just seven loaves and had seven baskets left over? How have they missed that Jesus will supply their need? When you find yourself in a difficult situation, are you turning to Jesus first for your provision? If not, why not?
The miracle of the blind man given his sight in two stages illustrates the blurred vision of the disciples as they fail to see clearly. Having eyes they do not see and having ears they do not hear.