The Yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees approached,(A) and as a test, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.(B)

He answered them: “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be good weather because the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy because the sky is red and threatening.’ You[a] know how to read the appearance of the sky, but you can’t read the signs of the times.[b] An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of[c] Jonah.”(C) Then He left them and went away.

The disciples reached the other shore,[d] and they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the yeast[e] of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”(D)

And they discussed among themselves, “We didn’t bring any bread.”

Aware of this, Jesus said, “You of little faith!(E) Why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000 and how many baskets you collected? 10 Or the seven loaves for the 4,000 and how many large baskets you collected?(F) 11 Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?”(G) 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the yeast in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.(H)

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Matthew 16:3 Other mss read Hypocrites! You
  2. Matthew 16:3 Other mss omit When (v. 2) through end of v. 3
  3. Matthew 16:4 Other mss add the prophet
  4. Matthew 16:5 Lit disciples went to the other side
  5. Matthew 16:6 Or leaven

The Demand for a Sign(A)

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees(B) came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.(C)

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.[a](D) A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”(E) Jesus then left them and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

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

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

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith,(G) why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?(H) 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?(I) 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.(J)

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Matthew 16:3 Some early manuscripts do not have When evening comes … of the times.