Mar. 18, 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight for Bible study. We will be studying Matthew 16:1-12, reviewing some dangers of how our mindsets can be at odds with God's. Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

MARCH 18, 2026

Matthew 16:1-12

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from

heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’

3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to

interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and

adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he

left them and departed.

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them,

“Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it

among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith,

why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive?

Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or

the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to

understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of

the Pharisees and Sadducees.

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v 1 – “And the Pharisees and Sadducees …”

Theologically, they could not have been more different—and in other circumstances had little to

do with each other

Pharisees Sadducees

Strict legalists—Scripture and oral tradition—

although they would have said the oral

tradition is merely explaining how to obey

the Scripture (written tradition).

Part of the “regular folks” socially

Emphasized separation from and superiority to

sinners, Jewish or Gentile. They would

generally despised and condemned the

Sadducees.

Believed in the resurrection of the dead,

including judgment, and in the supernatural

(angels, demons)

Self-righteous

Lovers of money (although not necessarily

wealthy)

Hated Jesus since he threatened their prestige

and their entire theological approach.

Very politically and socially “connected”—

including with the Temple and Priestly class

as well as with Greek/Roman power

brokers.

They claimed only to believe in the written law

(which left them great latitude in their

living). They did not follow the oral

traditions (hundreds of rules).

They did not believe in the resurrection of the

dead or the supernatural. Very secular.

Lived as elites and generally ridiculed the

fanatical Pharisees. Would have never had a

Pharisee over for dinner.

Majored in assimilating with those who had

something to offer—not being separate. Be a

part of the system. Don’t rock the boat.

Hated Jesus since his teaching and following

could have rocked their boat, upsetting their

comfortable relationships with power.

2

They were testing Jesus—they had no interest in following him, no respect for him

They considered that they were “honoring Jesus” by showing him any attention. This was giving

Jesus a chance to “prove himself” to them—and perhaps win their endorsement!

They were speaking to God in the flesh!

vv 2-3 – “He answered them …”

These were the religious leaders, the devout, the elite—and Jesus met them on that ground

You know how to read weather signs well enough, but you cannot discern the signs of the times!

The Messiah was right in front of them.

“And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind

receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are

raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.’”—Luke 7:22

And in addition to his miracles (signs), the teachings of Jesus—the truth and conviction and

beauty and severity of this words—were all lost on them.

v 4 – “An evil and adulterous generation …”

more lit. “a generation evil and [an] adulteress [moichalis] …”

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more

will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”—Matthew

7:11

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the

abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”—Matthew 12:34, to Pharisees

“adultery,” “adulteress” is God’s consistent description of his people when they compromise

fidelity to him and give themselves to the worldly culture around them. “Harlot” is another

term often applied.

“Adulteresses [moichalis]! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity

with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an

enemy of God.”—James 4:4

Adulterers, by definition, are married—but are betraying their spouse and marriage vows while

still within the marriage. They try to live in two worlds, although it is a deception, because

the marriage has been violated and is not the same. This is the danger of syncretism. When

God’s people become compromised, they still consider themselves “married” even though

they are committing adultery against God. They think they are living successfully in two

worlds, but their relationship with God has been violated.

Sinful, adulterous people do not need to be asking God for a sign. They need to heed his teaching

to “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”—they need to recognize their sinful condition

and their need for salvation. God does not placate or answer to prideful, sinful man.

“no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

This referring to the Resurrection –which was, indeed, a sign of all signs. It still is.

Most of them, still, did not believe. And it is largely ignored today.

The Resurrection is a sign of encouragement and truth and hope for the believer. For the one who

rejects Christ, it is an indictment—because even though Christ came back from the dead, you

still refuse to believe in him.

vv 5-12 – An example of what we can be preoccupied with vs. what God is “preoccupied” with—and

what God would have us to focus on.

vv 5-6 – “… [the disciples] had forgotten to bring any bread.”

3

And so this is what their minds were on—what are we going to do?! Now what? We have to

figure out about our meals … Who was supposed to have done this!? …

Jesus still had on his mind his encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees, the failing state of

religious leadership, and the impact that had on God’s people

When the disciples brought up bread—Jesus used that as an opportunity to redirect the

discussion (and mindset) to spiritual matters that were far more important and relevant. He

used the topic of “bread” to say that the leaven you really need to be concerned about is “the

leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

v 7 – “And they began discussing it …”

They couldn’t break out of thinking about the “bread problem”—and rather than be redirected by

Jesus’ answer, they saw it as somehow relating to the “bread problem.” THIS—the “bread

problem” is what had to be solved. Nothing else matters at the moment.

vv 8-11—“But Jesus, aware of this, said …”

“O you of little faith!” What are you worried about?! You act like God has never taken care of

you before!

Do you remember what God has done already? How abundantly able he is to take care of this?

Do you remember “the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?

Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?” (This is not

even a new problem! What does it take for you to trust that God will provide for you?

I am trying to teach you—to warn you—about something much more important. How is it that

you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? [Let’s try again:] Beware of the

leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

v 12 – “Then they understood …”

Our agenda vs God’s agenda

Our determined preoccupations vs the things that God is desiring to do with us and to teach us

A person who is perpetually worried about every thing that comes along will have their minds

steered by those things—going from “crisis to crisis” from “problem to problem.” A person

who trusts in the demonstrated power and provision of God is then free to be directed and

spoken to by God according to God’s will for what that person should be doing and learning

and receiving.

“… O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What

shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and

your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and

his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”—Matthew 6:30-33

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which

surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—

Philippians 4:6-7