““Blind Weathermen Blind Weathermen and Forgetful Bread and Forgetful Bread lovers”lovers”

Matthew 16:1-12Matthew 16:1-12

August 29, 2010August 29, 2010

Matthew 16:1Matthew 16:1

The Pharisees and Sadducees came:The Pharisees and Sadducees came:

united in their opposition of Jesusunited in their opposition of Jesus

to test Jesusto test Jesus

ENEMIES OFTEN UNITE IF THEIR UNITY ENEMIES OFTEN UNITE IF THEIR UNITY CAN DESTROY A COMMON FOE…CAN DESTROY A COMMON FOE…

Rivals ?…or not?Rivals ?…or not?

Rivals ?…or not?Rivals ?…or not?

Luke 23: 11-12Luke 23: 11-12

Matthew 16: 1-12Matthew 16: 1-12

The Pharisees and Sadducees BOTH The Pharisees and Sadducees BOTH opposed Jesus.opposed Jesus.

Matthew 16: 1-12Matthew 16: 1-12

The Pharisees and Sadducees BOTH The Pharisees and Sadducees BOTH opposed Jesus and shared a similar spirit opposed Jesus and shared a similar spirit as described by Paul.as described by Paul.

II Timothy 3:5 “having the appearance of II Timothy 3:5 “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” ESVsuch people.” ESV

““Sign” Request--Matt.12, 16Sign” Request--Matt.12, 16

Matthew 12:38 -- Show a sign from You Matthew 12:38 -- Show a sign from You Matthew 16:1-- Show a sign from HeavenMatthew 16:1-- Show a sign from Heaven

The use of miracles and signs in Scripture…The use of miracles and signs in Scripture… Many signs had already been done and they Many signs had already been done and they

still weren’t satisfied or convinced.still weren’t satisfied or convinced. (Matthew 12:24)(Matthew 12:24) What sign could they be shown greater than What sign could they be shown greater than

Jesus himself?Jesus himself?

Matthew 16: 2-3Matthew 16: 2-3Blind WeathermenBlind Weathermen

The Pharisees could discern the signs of The Pharisees could discern the signs of weather but not the spiritual signs all weather but not the spiritual signs all around them.around them.

Only being capable or willing to discern Only being capable or willing to discern the signs in the natural world was the signs in the natural world was evidence they evidence they were spiritually blind.were spiritually blind.

How could they not see?How could they not see?

Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will will raise up for you a prophetraise up for you a prophet like me like me from among you, from your countrymen, from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.you shall listen to him.

John 6:14 The people saw the sign which John 6:14 The people saw the sign which he had performed they said, “This is truly he had performed they said, “This is truly the the Prophet who is to comeProphet who is to come into the into the world.”world.”

How could they not see?How could they not see?

Peter in Acts 3:22 “Moses said, “The Peter in Acts 3:22 “Moses said, “The Lord God will Lord God will raise up for you a raise up for you a prophetprophet like me from your brethren, to like me from your brethren, to Him you shall give heed to everything He Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you.”says to you.”

Stephen in Acts 7:37 “This is the Moses Stephen in Acts 7:37 “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, “ God will who said to the sons of Israel, “ God will raise up for you a prophetraise up for you a prophet like me from like me from your brethren”your brethren”

Natural Natural SpiritualSpiritual

Natural Natural SpiritualSpiritual

Matthew 16: 4Matthew 16: 4

Evil (Sadducees)Evil (Sadducees) Denied the super-Denied the super-

natural and spirit natural and spirit world.world.

Denied the Denied the resurrection from the resurrection from the dead.dead.

Adulterous (Pharisees)Adulterous (Pharisees) Religion was their idolReligion was their idol Guarded and interpreted Guarded and interpreted

the law.the law. Felt threatened by Jesus Felt threatened by Jesus

who was affecting their who was affecting their influence on the influence on the masses.masses.

Matthew 16:4Matthew 16:4

……except the sign of Jonah”except the sign of Jonah”

See Matthew 12:38-41See Matthew 12:38-41

Given the familiarity with the OT, this Given the familiarity with the OT, this answer should have been clear to them.answer should have been clear to them.

Matthew 16: 5-12 Matthew 16: 5-12 “Forgetful Bread Lovers”“Forgetful Bread Lovers”

Vs. 5 -- distracted or forgetful? We aren’t Vs. 5 -- distracted or forgetful? We aren’t alone!alone!

Vs. 6 -- It wasn’t an accident that at this Vs. 6 -- It wasn’t an accident that at this time Jesus issued a warning to the time Jesus issued a warning to the disciples.disciples.

Matthew 16: 5-12Matthew 16: 5-12“Forgetful Bread Lovers”“Forgetful Bread Lovers”

Vs. 7 – The lack of understanding among Vs. 7 – The lack of understanding among the disciples is revealed.the disciples is revealed.

Matthew 16: 5-12Matthew 16: 5-12“Forgetful Bread Lovers”“Forgetful Bread Lovers”

Vs. 7 – The lack of understanding among Vs. 7 – The lack of understanding among the disciples is revealed.the disciples is revealed.

Vs. 8-11; Jesus gave a response that Vs. 8-11; Jesus gave a response that was necessary to bring clarity.was necessary to bring clarity.

Matthew 16: 5-12Matthew 16: 5-12“Forgetful Bread Lovers”“Forgetful Bread Lovers”

Vs. 7 – The lack of understanding among Vs. 7 – The lack of understanding among the disciples is revealed.the disciples is revealed.

Vs. 8-11; Jesus gave a response that Vs. 8-11; Jesus gave a response that was necessary to bring clarity.was necessary to bring clarity.

Vs. 11; Repeated warning to beware of Vs. 11; Repeated warning to beware of leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven represents bad doctrine and evil represents bad doctrine and evil influences. influences.

Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

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Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

Legalism-Legalism- Do you believe your service and actions Do you believe your service and actions

make you acceptable to God in addition make you acceptable to God in addition to or instead of Christ? to or instead of Christ?

Are you keeping rules and enforcing Are you keeping rules and enforcing them on others or expecting others to do them on others or expecting others to do the same?the same?

Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

Extreme Separatism-Extreme Separatism- Do you deliberately avoid contact with Do you deliberately avoid contact with

unbelievers or certain believers that you unbelievers or certain believers that you don’t agree with?don’t agree with?

Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

Self-Righteousness and Pride-Self-Righteousness and Pride- Are you teachable and approachable? Are you teachable and approachable?

Do you believe you are past the point of Do you believe you are past the point of needing correction or instruction in needing correction or instruction in even even oneone area of life? area of life?

Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

Formalism and Traditionalism-Formalism and Traditionalism- Do you put more emphasis on man’s Do you put more emphasis on man’s

traditions or opinions over the Word of traditions or opinions over the Word of God? Is your heart involved? God? Is your heart involved?

Are you coming to church just so others Are you coming to church just so others see you?see you? Do you read the Word so you Do you read the Word so you can say you did or because you WANT to can say you did or because you WANT to know what God has to tell you?know what God has to tell you?

Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

A Judgmental Spirit-A Judgmental Spirit- Are you sitting in judgment of others as if they Are you sitting in judgment of others as if they

have to answer to you? have to answer to you? Are you extremely critical, deciding if what Are you extremely critical, deciding if what

others do is pleasing to God?others do is pleasing to God? Are you constantly finding fault in others?Are you constantly finding fault in others? Do you think more about what you or what Do you think more about what you or what

others need to do to make things right?others need to do to make things right?

Leaven looks like…Leaven looks like…

Hypocrisy-Hypocrisy- Do you place an emphasis on what you do as Do you place an emphasis on what you do as

seen by others rather than who you are as seen by others rather than who you are as seen by God?seen by God?

Do you act one way in public and another way Do you act one way in public and another way in private? in private?

Do you seek to make a false impression? Do you seek to make a false impression? Spiritually speaking, do you allow others to Spiritually speaking, do you allow others to

believe things about you that you know are not believe things about you that you know are not true?true?

Matthew 16: 5-12Matthew 16: 5-12“Forgetful Bread Lovers”“Forgetful Bread Lovers”

Vs. 12 – Understanding finally came to Vs. 12 – Understanding finally came to the disciples after:the disciples after: TimeTime CommunicationCommunication An open ear and mind to truthAn open ear and mind to truth

                                

Take this with you…Take this with you…

Seek the Lord, not a sign and heed the Seek the Lord, not a sign and heed the warning to beware of the leaven!warning to beware of the leaven!

Take this with you…Take this with you…

Seek the Lord, not a sign and heed the Seek the Lord, not a sign and heed the warning to beware of the leaven!warning to beware of the leaven!

Open your spiritual eyes and maintain a Open your spiritual eyes and maintain a heavenly focus! heavenly focus!