Matthew 16 Part 1–The Yeast Effect

In Matthew 16,The Religious leaders do what they always do–come to test Jesus and try to trip him up. On this day, they asked him to show them a sign–mind you, He had recently fed 5000+ people, then later fed 4000+ people with a combine 12 loaves of bread and probably 6 or 7 fish. He continued to heal the sick and cast out demons. He continued to teach about God and embrace the people that had been abandoned.  

Jesus response was in effect–the signs are everywhere, you simply fail to recognize them. The only sign left to convince you is the sign of Jonah.  Little did they know, like Jonah, Jesus would be “swallowed up” by death for 3 days; and then, like Jonah, He would be ressurected to free the people–like Jonah did with the people of Ninevah. 

Still, the disciples did not understand, that like yeast, the religious leaders were trying to work their way in; and somehow, control the minisrty of Jesus.  They thought by trying to trick him, they could get him to be different, to lose control of His ministry. While Jesus was not falling for it, the disciples were still too green to understand. Jesus needed them to see that the religious leaders were never there to be convinced–only to destroy Jesus and his ministry. It was not unlikeyeast is there to make the bread rise, and nothing more.

It is the same today. The religious are still annoyed by the truth of the Gospel. They want spirituality to be on their terms, and a product of what they do and accomplish. Sadly, when the truth of grace is taught, it makes them crazy. They want to control the message and the outcome. There will never be enough proof or miracles to convince them otherwise. As with the disciples, Jesus reminds us–do not fall for it. they are simply trying to change the truth–they have no desire to understand it.  We simply trust God and ignore them. Don’t allow them to “Get a rise out of us”. 

God Bless You



The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees




Author: Michael Smith


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