Matthew 16:1 Sign - For The Glory of Jesus

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Sign

The Jewish leaders wanted a sign. They were not convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus also tells us to “beware of the leaven.”

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

Matthew 16:1-12

1. “The Pharisees and Sadducees requested a sign from heaven; that is, from God, to demonstrate that Jesus’ authority was from God.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

“The word translated sign means more than simply a miracle or a demonstration of power. It means ‘a wonder by which one may recognize a person or confirm who he is.’” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 56)

“In Matthew 12:38 the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign. At that time the Lord gave them the sign of Jonah.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 90)

2-3. “If the Jewish leaders can recognize what the weather is likely to be by the appearance of the sky, why can they not recognize the dawning of the kingdom of heaven and messianic age by what Jesus does and teaches? (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. [Nashville: Broadman Press], 248)

4. “Their demand for a sign revealed the sad condition of their hearts: they were evil and adulterous. He did not accuse them of being guilty of physical adultery, but of spiritual adultery (Isaiah 57; James 4:4).” (Wiersbe, 56)

The sign of Jonah “was the sign of death, burial and resurrection. Our Lord’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were actually a sign to Israel that He was their Messiah.” (Wiersbe, 56)

Leaven

5. “In Matthew we learned that leaven is always a principle of evil and never a principle of good. The Lord says to beware of the leaven.” (McGee, 91)

6. “Jesus meant ‘yeast’ here as a figurative reference to the corrupting influence of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The hypocrites’ teachings were so subtle, and their spiritual power so intimidating, that Jesus foresaw a real danger that his own disciples might be led astray by the Pharisees and Sadducees.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

7. “The disciples misunderstood Him; they thought He was talking about material bread. Often in the ministry of Jesus, people misconstrued His words by interpreting them literally rather that spiritually.” (Wiersbe, 57)

8. The disciples “’little faith’ kept them from understanding His teaching and depending on His power to meet their needs.” (Wiersbe, 57)

9-10. “His message was, ‘You should know that my warning has nothing to do with physical bread, because the Father will provide all we need and more. You should have known I was not talking about physical bread.’” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

11. “Leaven, according to our Lord’s interpretation, is false doctrine. It is that which is evil.” (McGee, 91)

12. “This time they understood that Jesus was warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Faith Jesus Christ

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