Saturday, August 25

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Lamentations 1-3:36

Today's scripture focus is Matthew 16:1-12

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

⁵ When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”^(F)

⁷ They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?¹¹ How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Don't we always want proof? We are hesitant to believe anything. We rarely take people at their word-we want to see the photo or hear the account substantiated by someone else or even see it with our own eyes. We are often sceptical of things. The Pharisees and Sadduccees wanted proof that Jesus was everything he claimed to be.  It didn't seem to matter that they had (no doubt) heard about the miracles that Jesus performed- healing disease and sickness and demon possessed. They probably heard (or maybe were even among) the crowds that were fed by a miracle. It doesn't seem to matter that Jesus spoke with wisdom and authority in His teaching and constantly left them speechless. They wanted direct proof.

I found an interesting note about the fact that the Pharisees and Sadduccees approached Jesus together.

In 16:1 these two groups are mentioned together for the first time in Matthew's account of Jesus' ministry (cf. 3:7, about John's ministry). Given the great differences between the groups, the evidence of Mt 16 is striking. Here they are associated with one another in the closest way. In every instance (vv. 1, 6, 11, 12), both names stand under one definite article ("the Pharisees and Sadducees," not "the P's and the S's"). The two groups unite in their testing of Jesus, v. 1. Jesus ascribes to both groups a single teaching (didachI), [The Pharisees and the Sadducees, otherwise opposed to each other, now unite against a common enemy].v. 12, here pictured as their "yeast," vv. 6, 11. This is most remarkable, given their different points of view - so remarkable that some interpreters infer from Matthew's language that he was ignorant of, or indifferent to, those differences (cf. e.g. TDNT 7: 52). But this is to miss the intention of both Jesus and the opposition.

They were so critical of Jesus that they chose to ignore their individual differences to band together to "get" Jesus and "trap" Him by asking Him to give them a sign. However, Jesus rebukes them and tells them that "...None will be given except the sign of Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away. 

"The sign of Jonah" (more about it here-Thanks Tammy!) was the only "sign" Jesus was going to give to them. I love the next part...Jesus. left. them. and. went. away. I teach Grade 1and at my school there are always conflicts that arise between students. One of the strategies that we teach the children to use is to walk away. Not in total avoidance to the problem but to cool off, to think, and to make good choices about how to go about solving the problem. Walking away also gives the other person the same opportunity. Some differences of opinion- "Was it a goal? Or not?", "Did you actually say that mean thing? Or did someone just think they heard it?" -will not be solved and the best thing to do is to walk away before something happens that both parties will regret.

Jesus gives a verbal response and a visible response. The visible response of walking away was a

"deliberate act of "judgmental abandonment" (Gundry, 324). Jesus does not abandon his subject, only his audience. In 16:5-12 he will pursue the matter raised by the question of v. 1; he will continue to speak about the Pharisees and Sadducees, but now he does not speak to them - only to his disciples. This passage is very reminiscent of 15:1-20, where, after pronouncing judgment upon the Pharisees and teachers of the law, vv. 8-9, Jesus turns to the crowd and then to the disciples."

Any sign would not have been enough. The Pharisees and Sadduccees had already made up their minds about Jesus and how he threatened their position. They were angry and resentful and determined. This is why Jesus cautioned his disciples and compared their influence to the power of yeast and its ability to grow and spread through a large amount of flour and affect the entire batch.

"Bad doctrines act in the soul as leaven does in meal; they assimulate the whole Spirit to their own nature. A man's particular creed has a greater influence on his tempers and conduct than most are aware of. Pride, hypocrisy, and worldly-mindedness, which constituted the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, ruin the major part of the world." (Quote taken from here)

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Matthew 16:13-20

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Lam 3:37-5:22