A SENSE OF HISTORY

Passage: Matthew 16:5-12

Key verse: 8

NIV

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

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.”(A)

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,(B) 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?(C) 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?(D) 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.(E)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and (A)beware of (B)the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But (C)Jesus, aware of this, said, (D)“O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 (E)Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember (F)the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or (G)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? (H)Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 (I)Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of (J)the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Forgotten bread (5-7)

When Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake, they forgot to take bread. They were getting hungry. So when Jesus warned them to guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, they thought he was talking about bread.

2. Yeast of the Pharisees (8-12)

The Pharisees had seen God's work in Jesus, but they did not believe because they did not want to commit themselves to him. This unbelief springs from selfishness and easily spreads to others. Jesus rebuked his disciples for their unbelief and reminded them of the two crowds of hungry people they had fed. They needed a sense of history. We must guard against bad influence. We can do this when we remember God's grace with thankful hearts.

Prayer: Lord, you saved me from sin and death and put joy and meaning into my life. Help me to have a sense of history and a growing faith.

One Word: Have a sense of history