Today’s Bible study is designed to lead you to read further the scripture associated with this devotional blog. I have linked passages for your convenience.
“…Don’t you remember…?”
Have you ever paid attention to how often Jesus kindly used teachable moments to bolster the fledgling faith of His disciples?
Jesus was the perfect Teacher.
Jesus was winsome and kind. Jesus was bold with truth, because the truth is always kind. And Jesus, very often, got the attention of his listeners with one word.
For today’s devotion, the word is “remember.” Keep watching to see how the story unfolds.
We will take a quick survey of what has already transpired leading up to this moment, just for context.
In Matthew 15, the Pharisees were distressed over the behavior of Jesus and His disciples.
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”
Matthew 15:2
But Jesus quickly had a counter-question for them. He turned the conversation to make them face the truth.
“He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition?”
Matthew 15:3
Be sure to read the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. You will see their sin on full display as this conversation deepens. This is a thread leading to the lesson that Jesus has for the disciples.
As chapter sixteen opens, these adversarial hypocrites attack once more, but Jesus tells them what they their stony hearts cannot conceive of about the signs of the end of the age. (Read Matthew 16:1-4).
Then Jesus and the disciples leave them and reach the other shore.
Jesus makes a simple statement.
“Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:6
The disciples think that Jesus is referring to actual bread, because they have forgotten to bring food. (Matthew 16:5 & 7-8).
REMEMBER
Nothing is ever just about temporary hunger pangs. Jesus never forgot about the hurting and the hungry. He healed them and He fed them.
But He wanted to heal their souls and fill their hearts with the Bread of Life.
So Jesus reminded the disciples about this-
Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you collected? Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?” Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:9-12
Jesus reminded the disciples to be wary of false teachers among them. The Pharisees focused on everything from hand washing to money given sinfully to religious emptiness and misleading statements about the end of days. None of it was relevant because it was corrupt.
The Pharisees were a distraction from eternal life.
Are there people like that in the Church today? (2 John 1:9)
You bet! (1 Timothy 4:1)
And they are no less distracting. They are apostates and many people will choose to follow them, tragically. (1 John 2:22)
Below are some helpful passages regarding false teachers. Ignorance of this danger to the Church is no excuse. The Bible is full of warnings and guidance on how to deal with this peril.
Colossians 2:8; Jude; Matthew 15:14: 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:2; 1 John 2:19
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 