QUESTION #25 O ye hypocrites! Can you not discern the signs of the times?

  QUESTIONS JESUS ASKED BIBLE STUDY 

 

     Read Matthew 16:1-12 KJV: 

 

  …O ye hypocrites! Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3)

  O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? (Matthew 16:8)

  So ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (Matthew 16:9)

  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (Matthew 16:10)

  How is it ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? (Matthew 16:11)

 

BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES

Reference: Matthew 16:1-12; Mark 8:11-21; Luke 12:1

 

People of Jesus’ day knew that a red sky at night meant the weather would be a delight, but a read sky in the morning was a sign for stormy weather. The Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious leaders) asked Jesus for a sign from heaven. This is a remarkably bold request. Jesus had been performing miracles and signs - healing the lame, the blind, the sick, and twice feeding thousands of people with a few loaves and a few fish (Matthew 14 and 15). They can discern the sky and predict the weather, but they can’t observe the signs of the times - can’t observe the signs of the Messiah? (Read Matthew 16:1-12)

 

The Pharisees and Sadducees could not see the simplest spiritual reality: Jesus was the Messiah. Like anyone, they could read the sky and predict the weather, but they could not see that Messiah had come even with all His miracles and great wisdom. How many signs must Jesus do before they believe? Had they tested Jesus honestly, they would have tested Him against Scripture. They would have tested His deeds and words against the Word of God.

 

The Pharisees were simply acting out of envy. They weren’t interested in the truth about Jesus. They were only looking for a way to shame Him publicly and to protect their prestige. He calls them “hypocrites” and “an evil and adulterous generation”. 

 

Jesus’ reply to their insincere request exposed the ignorance of the religious elites. Jesus informs the Pharisees that only the sign of Jonah, the greatest sign imaginable, would be given to their generation. The Son of God would rise victoriously from the dead. He would conquer the grave, and he would pave a path of freedom for those who put their trust in Him. The religious professionals never understood this because they were blinded by their own selfish sinful desires.

When Jesus warned “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees”. The disciples were confused and thought that Jesus was talking about bread, but soon realized that Jesus was telling them to beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

 

What is the “leaven of the Pharisees”? Why did Christ feel compelled to warn His disciples? Would you recognize this “leavening” if you saw it today? The answer to these questions is important, and you can find a direct answer in Luke 12:1, Jesus stated that the leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy.

 

A hypocrite. “Hypocrite” comes from the Greek word hupokrites and refers to someone who is acting or pretending. Merriam-Webster defines this word as “a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.”

 

Jesus likened the conduct of the Pharisees to actors -- men pretending, playing a role. The Pharisees were a powerful leadership body who claimed to be more zealous and more righteous than the rest of the Jewish society. It is interesting that early on Jesus forcefully addressed the issue of hypocrisy. You might call Matthew 6:1-8 a prime example of identifying hypocrisy. (Read Matthew 6:1-8)

 

The hypocrites give offerings for the purpose of being seen and admired (verses 1-2); they pray to impress men with their voices and their words (verse 5); and they do all they can to look miserable when they fast so they will be admired for their sacrifice and pitied for their discomfort (verse 16). 

 

The Pharisees set themselves up as models of what was right and godly, yet in Jesus’ eyes their example was actually destructive. In Jesus’ estimation the conduct or doctrine of these men had a corrupting effect upon those who followed their example -- a leavening effect, if you will.

 

It’s rather important for us to understand what Jesus was getting at. Any baker will tell you that a little yeast is enough to make a whole bath of dough rise. Just a little of it affects everything. Because Pharisees have a self-made code of righteousness (one that condones their actions and doesn’t judge their hearts), they have a rather high view of themselves. Instead of comparing themselves to God and the Law, they compare themselves to others through the lens of their favorite rules. 

 

In the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14), the tax collector’s eyes were open, he knew he was a breaker of God’s Law, the only avenue he had left was to own up to it, and plead for mercy – and he got it! On the other hand, the Pharisee compared himself to the tax collector and thought himself more righteous by his acts. He did not seek God’s grace – so he got none.

 

The same thing happens with a little of this teaching in the heart of a Christian. We must heed Christ’s warning – beware of the leaven of the Pharisees!

 

Beware of false prophets, false teaches, beware of their leaven! Beware of their doctrine!

 

Beware is a strong word. Beware, stay away, there is danger ahead. If you were to come up to a yard with a sign warning “beware of vicious dog” would you enter that yard?

 

To learn more on how to spot a false prophet or leader, see “False Teachers” pamphlet in pocket of study.

 

Notes: