Matthew 16:1-12*
Key Verse: “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." (Matthew 16:4).
Introduction: Do you know anyone that you trust enough that you listen to and do anything with them? How can you trust someone enough to entrust your whole life to them?
What does it take for a man to know and believe in Jesus the Savior enough to commit his or her life to following him? Jesus worked with his disciples for three years, but they were still unsure of who he was. The Pharisees and teachers of the law, as well as the Sadducees, demanded a sign from heaven, so that they might believe in and accept Jesus’ authority as the coming Messiah.
What does it take for any man to believe in Jesus as their Savior? More specifically, what does it take for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, in complete faith and without any doubts?
There are two things we must consider: 1) what Jesus did for us, and 2) how we are to reason, understand, and accept what he did. Jesus taught that his work was signs of the times, but the top national leaders were not convinced of this and asked for more, a spectacular sign from heaven. We will explore the depths of such a demand and discuss the details of Jesus’ offer to give even such unruly people the sign of Jonah.
1. The generation demands a miraculous sign [Matthew 16:1-4].
As Jesus comes back from the Gentile region known as the Decapolis, where he had previously fed four thousand people, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to see him and brought up a nasty demand for him to show them a sign from heaven.
“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.” (Matthew 16:1).
First, I would like to look at these two groups of people. As we studied in Matthew 12, the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus and asked the same question, but at that time, Jesus rejected their request and would only give them the Sign of Jonah. Now here they were again, only this time, the Pharisees brought the Sadducees with them. The Sadducees were aristocrats who held the power and authority of the nation; they also possessed the highest political power as high priests and members of the Sanhedrin. Their chief was the high priest at the top of Israel’s religious and political authority. They were rich, powerful, proud, arrogant, rude, and boorish; wherever they went, their presence carried a certain weight. So the Sadducees’ presence was unique and produced a totally different atmosphere. The demand from the Pharisees and Sadducees combined, had a powerful force and authority over the Israelite people. It seems that, at this time, the Pharisees were determined to get to the bottom of the truth by joining forces with the Sadducees, to discover if Jesus could show them a sign from heaven or not. If he could not, then it would be quite obvious that he was not of God; following his failure, all of the people would no longer believe in him as their Messiah or Savior. Furthermore, they, as the authority of the nation, could do to him whatever they want to. If he could show them a miraculous sign, than they would have to change their minds and attitudes toward him.
Through this encounter, we can understand why this question had been unending and lingering in the minds of these leaders of Israel; however, they were actually not alone in living with such skepticism. Such questions were raised even by one of Jesus’ disciples (John 14:8).
What is enough for anyone to believe in Jesus? If he brought fire down from heaven, would that be enough for you?
It seems as if Jesus was begging for their faith and trust! It is not that they, in their favor towards him, would count him as their Savior, but whether or not he considered them to be fit for God’s blessing! Jesus, as well as God the Father, is looking for a certain amount of faith, such as that of the Canaanite woman. One such spectacular sign from heaven wouldn’t do any good in regards to creating faith and trust in God in these people’s minds.
Matthew 16:2-3
Jesus gave them an example of how one makes a decision of faith, using the illustration of the sky that covers the entire atmosphere of our world.
When the sky was red in the evening, they knew that the weather would be good the next day, but if the sky was red in the morning, then the weather would be bad. Though in both of these cases the sky was red, yet interpretation was different, depending on the time of its appearance. Simply, in order to correctly predict the weather, one has to make a ‘right’ interpretation.
Jesus chose the weather as an example because it was a relevant concern in the world in which they lived, as well as the world we live in today. How can one understand or predict the culture in which they are living? By correctly reading the signs they are given. They were able to read the weather correctly, but, unfortunately, they could not interpret the signs of the times. Thus, they asked for a single sign, spectacular and unmistakably of God. But here, Jesus charges them with failing to interpret these signs correctly.
Interpretation is made through the following process: collecting and analyzing all of the facts and finally drawing a conclusion from what has been closely examined. Based on that conclusion, one can make a decision to act in faith.
They had seen Jesus perform many signs but they could not interpret those signs. Jesus also said that they were signs of the times. Many signs would come together to indicate the times. Here also, Jesus said the times, plural. This term does not indicate a particular or specific time. Rather, Jesus was talking about times that were a period of time or periods of times, from one time to another. Putting these together, Jesus was saying that all the works that he did were the signs of the times. They spoke about a particular period or transition from the old time to a new one. This was already addressed in Matthew
“But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28 (NIV).
Jesus did not give them a single sign, but he had given them many signs of the times. All these signs, put together, speak of one thing, the coming of the kingdom of God and King Jesus. Each of these signs speaks to a particular aspect of the Messiah and his coming in the kingdom of God. In order to interpret this correctly, one must look at all that Jesus was doing with reason and analysis, and then make a decision. All these works must be looked at with faith. They speak of one thing: that Jesus is the Lord and Savior. The entire sphere of their world was changing, like the weather; yet they failed to read the signs they’d been given and they failed to see the changing of the time.
When John was in prison, he had the same doubts as to whether or not Jesus was the Messiah and if he would bring the kingdom of God. But Jesus said to John’s disciples the facts that spoke of the changing of the times, the approaching times of the Messiah and of salvation.
“Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” Matthew 11:4-5.
Jesus demanded that John and his disciples read the signs of the times.
He brings a new era for those who believe in him, no matter where they are or what period of human history they are under. It is like exchanging the old wineskin for new wineskin, old wine for new!
Jesus clearly revealed their egregious mistakes. Then, was their hostility just a human mistake in their estimation? Also, was Jesus refusing to give them a sign with which they were obsessed?
“A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.” (Matthew 16:4).
Jesus called these people a wicked and adulterous generation.
First, they were wicked, deliberately choosing to deny something good and pure so as to enjoy evil. Second, they were adulterous, deliberately rejecting God in favor of the world and its ideas.
They cut off their loyalty to the Lord so as to seek their own sinfulness of mind. This is well revealed in Matthew 12:22-25. Jesus drove out demons and the teachers who were gathered rendered this power to the head of the demons.
In such a condition, they could not read the signs of the times, but such ungodliness is not unique to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus condemned, not just these two groups, but the entire generation, which was typified by wickedness and adultery. Jesus lumped all of these people together, i.e. ‘wicked and adulterous generation.’
Here, ‘generation’ could mean three things. First, it could refer to a man and his descendants coming after him, which could be physical descendants, in addition to figuratively depicting a group of people who share the same ideas.
Secondly, it can be used to denote a group of people of a certain fixed time period who also share similar beliefs. Thirdly, this word can be applied to a particular period that is well defined or delineated by Scripture.
No matter what definition one may use, the people are characterized by two things: wickedness and adultery.
As I mentioned before, wickedness is intentionally or deliberately choosing something evil and ungodly. Adultery is when someone cuts off a marriage relationship in order to find someone else who suits his or her taste. So, if we put this into one overarching concept, Jesus was condemning those who had rejected God willfully and chose to fulfill their evil desires.
For such people, what might work? Are they worthy for Jesus to do more than the signs of the times that he already performed?
Jesus did not fail to give them one. There was only one sign left for him to give - the sign of Jonah.
The sign of Jonah was explained in detail in Matthew 12:38-45. Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights. When he was spit out, the people of Nineveh listened to his message and did not perish.
When did Jesus go through such an event in his life? Here, Jesus said that he would give them the sign of Jonah. This meant that that sign was forthcoming in the future for these leaders of the nation. Just as Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days, Jesus would suffer, die on the cross, and be buried in the earth for three days. Then he would rise from the dead as a witness of God’s power, judgment, and hope. After his resurrection, he talked with his disciples for 40 days and ascended to heaven in their full view. This was the one and biggest sign for those who are born and live in wickedness and adultery. Simply, Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection are the sign that he came from heaven and went back to heaven. His resurrection proves that he is the Son of God, the Messiah. Jesus promised to give this sign to them as well.
This was the one and only sign that was offered to them. This may be the only sign that might work for such people. This is God’s amazing grace. For this wicked and adulterous generation, Jesus suffered, died, and resurrected. This was the final and only sign for all generations that lived in wickedness and adultery.
The fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection worked as the sign is not just an idea; we can find evidence of this in two places. First, in Acts 2, Peter preached to the crowds that the one they killed had resurrected and become their Lord and Savior. Here, Jesus’ death and resurrection were the key message; after hearing this message, 3,000 people repented and believed. Secondly, in Acts 17, Paul preached to the Athenians about Jesus’ resurrection. This caught their attention and they expressed a desire to hear more. Eventually, quite a number of people believed.
This is true even today. Those who accept Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection will see God’s justice, grace, and hope for them, but those who reject this sign — the final and ultimate one - will surely face God’s judgment.
This is the sign, even for the generation in which we now live. People are just as wicked and adulterous, but Jesus’ resurrection is the only sign for them.
Simply, Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection serve as the sign for all of the ungodly, speaking God’s truth about sin, its punishment leading to judgment, and submission resulting in salvation and resurrection into the glory. Thus, it is a sign of judgment, God’s righteousness, blessing, and hope.
Given such a powerful sign, what they should do?
“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:21-23).
Even after witnessing such a powerful sign, they must reject their own way — reliance on miracles and human wisdom; they must come with faith that believes in the wisdom of God.
It is amazing how gracious God is! His grace is even reaching out to those who chose to be wicked and adulterous. May God have mercy upon us all in His grace.
2. Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees [Matthew 16:5-12]
“When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.” (Matthew 16:5).
After promising to give them the sign of Jonah, Jesus and his disciples went across the lake by boat. They were all alone. At this time, Jesus warned his disciples:
"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6).
Jesus told them to guard against the yeast of the Pharisee and Sadducees, but they were puzzled by his words; they did not know what Jesus meant by the yeast.
“They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread.” (Matthew 16:7).
What does it mean that they did not know and came up with such a ridiculous answer? Why did they come to this conclusion? Verse 8 presents two possible reasons:
“Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand?” (Matthew 16:8).
1. They had no concern about the teaching of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. When the religious leaders demanded a sign from heaven, the disciples did not feel that there was anything wrong with their demands. Under such naïve ignorance or innocence, Jesus’ warning against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees was interpreted as them having no physical bread.
2. They did not learn from their past experience with the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000. From these feedings, it was quite clear that Jesus could feed many and that food was no problem as long as he was with them. However, the disciples failed to realize this. Simply, what they supposed to know and learn from the signs of the time, they did not fully or completely learn. This is why Jesus called them “you of little faith”.
So what did Jesus do?
“Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” (Matthew 16:9b-10).
Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves. Not long after that, he fed 4,000 people with seven loaves. On both of these occasions, the disciples were direct participants. They received the fives loaves or seven loaves of bread and saw Jesus praying over them before they distributed the pieces to the people. At the end of each of these two miracles, they collected large quantities of leftovers. Jesus did not teach them explicitly what this meant.
Here, Jesus did not teach them explicitly about what these miracles meant. The disciples and the crowds were to feel, understand, learn, and decide in faith, particularly about his power and true identity. Jesus never said or claimed saying, “See, I am the Son of God, since I did such miracles that no one else can!” They were to figure this out by reason and make a decision of faith!
If you were there, what would be your conclusion on Jesus? Since he did not claim anything or teach them explicitly, his miracles were to serve as signs of the times. Those who witnessed his work must be able to analyze and make a decision on his true identity. Who else could do such things? If he was just a man, how could he feed so many people two separate times? Was such a thing mentioned in God’s Messianic promise? If Jesus was just a powerful prophet, then why did he teach about the kingdom of God?
These are solid evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Nothing else is possible. This is understood by interpreting the signs of the times; the king is here and the kingdom is at hand in power!
Yet these disciples hadn’t firmly decided and weren’t fully convinced that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah. It is even possible that, if they saw Jesus performing such great signs from heaven, they would be happier and more convinced!
So what did Jesus do? He reminded them of two events. By doing remembering these events in particular, they could then reassess and reexamine who Jesus was - the one who held awesome power and great compassion! In him was the only living God!
As they remembered these events again, their minds were awakened to recognize Jesus in his miracles and surely led them to a firm conviction that he was the Son of God, their Savior.
Then what was Jesus warning them against? What is the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
“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." (Matthew 16:11).
Here, Jesus used the figurative term, ‘yeast’. Yeast was not the literal substance he was talking about; however, it was something that works like yeast. The reason Jesus used such figurative language was for his listeners to think and reason in faith so that they may be able to discern and come to a conclusion in faith. Jesus often bombarded them with figurative language or suggestions; he did not or would not say anything explicitly (i.e. I am more powerful than any men, I am the Son of God, I am able and can feed even millions of people as I have shown!) What does this mean for us? Jesus is forcing us to interpret and determine until we reach the conclusion in faith, from the depths of our hearts, that JESUS is the MESSIAH and the SON OF GOD.
Yeast is something we mix into flour dough so that the dough may swell like a puffed face. Once it is mixed, we cannot see its presence, but eventually, it spreads through the whole dough. If the yeast represents something bad, then the whole batch of dough is spoiled and becomes bad also. Though it is invisible, it exerts its influence on the entire dough. This is the character of yeast.
When Jesus warned his disciples against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he was referencing the fact that their particular understanding or teaching can work insidiously in our hearts and minds to spoil our faith and the truth we know through him. What is that yeast? What is the thing that we cannot see well in the beginning, but will eventually spoil the whole dough?
The Pharisees and Sadducees saw many signs of the times, forgot what they had seen, and ask for more. Eventually, they totally failed to read any of the signs provided to them. Jesus did many things: healed the blind, the lame, the deaf and mute, driving out demons, and bringing the dead to life. He showed his compassion for a Canaanite woman and her daughter, he healed many, he fed 5,000, and then again 4,000. All these things did not happen in secret. However, they refused to accept all of this, and instead demanded an additional sign from heaven.
This mentality comes from wickedness that rejects what is true, good, and godly. It is the adulterous heart that rejects God as its Lord but is driven by the world and its desires. Their pride and obstinate heart express one thing: the demand for a miraculous sign from heaven.
A single miraculous sign never changes men’s minds and it never creates repentance and faith in their hearts!
Yet this was what these people from near and far were demanding, and what they continue to demand today. Practically speaking, all who claim to be honest and right demand a sign from heaven.
This kind of yeast looks very mild and doesn’t pose any harm, but the influence it has is very powerful and insidious. Once we let such an idea get into our hearts, it can eventually destroy our faith. So be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees! What is the antidote for this poison?
As Jesus said to his disciples, we must also remember what he has done, work by work. In each of these events, we feel his love, power, compassion and hope for sinners. The most powerful antidote for false teachings is what Jesus did on the cross — the sign of Jonah.
Here, we can surely and convincingly say that Jesus is our Lord and King.
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