In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ

In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ The Pharisees Test Jesus November 15, 2009 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Seeking Yet Another sign www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Matthew’s Account • Matthew 16:1-4 • 1The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3“And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Mark’s Account • Mark 8:10-13 • 10And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha. 11The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. 12Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said*, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

For Discussion • Note the pairing of the Pharisees and Sadducees against Jesus • Strange bedfellows • “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” • Probably not a local group come to test Jesus • “Red skies at night – sailors delight; red skies at morning, sailors take warning” • They are able to read the skies, but are unable to discern what is happening among them www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

For Discussion • Why do they continue to ask for a sign? • What more do they expect to see? • A “sign from heaven” to prove his legitimacy • Jesus has been accused of doing what He does by the power of Beelzebul (Mark 3:22) • They want additional proof that Jesus is acting from God’s authority • What will they get? • Only the sign of Jonah • Why not interpret the sign? • He has already done so (Matthew 12:39-40) www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Beware! www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Matthew’s Account • Matthew 16:5-8 • 5And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”7They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” 8But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Matthew’s Account (cont.) • Matthew 16:9-12 • 9Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Mark’s Account • Mark 8:14-17 • 14And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17And Jesus, aware of this, said* to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Mark’s Account (cont.) • Mark 8:18-21 • 18“Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, 19when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said* to Him, “Twelve.” 20“When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said* to Him, “Seven.” 21And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

For Discussion • What does Jesus mean by the “leaven” of the Pharisees and of Herod? • Term was often used in reference to corruption and the spread thereof • Falls on the heels of the Pharisees’ demand for a sign • Herod (Antipas) will also ask for a sign during Jesus’ trial (Luke 23:8) • Dalmuntha may have been in Herod’s territory • Why warn against it? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

For Discussion • How do the disciples interpret Jesus’ statement? • How could they do so, given what they have witnessed? • Failure to bring sufficient provisions seems to have been a common issue • Perhaps were still following Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 10:9-11 • Jesus wants them to see that it is His presence with them, and not the miracles themselves, that is significant www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

For Discussion • The disciples recollection of the feeding miracles is precise • Jesus uses two different terms for baskets, indicating that a different type of basket was used in each case www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Next Week • A Healing and a Testing Questions? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ