Pharisees Demand a Miraculous Sign

11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” 13 So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.

Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

14 But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’[a] Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”

“Twelve,” they said.

20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”

“Seven,” they said.

21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:18 Jer 5:21.

11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.(A) 12 He sighed deeply(B) and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast(C) of the Pharisees(D) and that of Herod.”(E)

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?(F) 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,”(G) they replied.

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”(H)

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”(I)

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Psalm 147

Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!
    How delightful and how fitting!

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Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant(A) and fitting to praise him!(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20

He heals the brokenhearted
    and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
    and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
    His understanding is beyond comprehension!
The Lord supports the humble,
    but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

Sing out your thanks to the Lord;
    sing praises to our God with a harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds,
    provides rain for the earth,
    and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
He gives food to the wild animals
    and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
    or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
    those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!

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He heals the brokenhearted(A)
    and binds up their wounds.(B)
He determines the number of the stars(C)
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(D) and mighty in power;(E)
    his understanding has no limit.(F)
The Lord sustains the humble(G)
    but casts the wicked(H) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(I) with grateful praise;(J)
    make music(K) to our God on the harp.(L)

He covers the sky with clouds;(M)
    he supplies the earth with rain(N)
    and makes grass grow(O) on the hills.
He provides food(P) for the cattle
    and for the young ravens(Q) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(R) of the horse,(S)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(T) in those who fear him,(U)
    who put their hope(V) in his unfailing love.(W)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(X)
    praise your God, Zion.

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