The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. 12 But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!” 13 Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?[a] And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Twelve,” they told Him.
20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?
Questions:
1. Why do the Pharisees demand to see another miracle even though they have witnessed so many before?
A. They are in denial and nieve of who Jesus is and are afraid of what He can do. They might also want to witness and miracle to catch Him in the act.
2. What was Jesus’s response to the Pharisees wanting to see a miracle?
A. He is infuriated because they still couldn’t see the power in Him through their ignorance.
3. What does Jesus mean by, “Beware of the Yeast?”
A. Yeast makes bread rise, so if the yeast is bad, the bread is bad. In this metaphor, the bread is the word of God, and because the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod makes the bread, they are infecting the word. Also, the yeast spreads the bread, and they don’t want to spread the wrong words of God.
4. How would you feel if you were one the 12 disciples and you still don’t understand that Jesus will provide you with ever need?
A. ????
The Purpose/Summary
In this passage certain people test God’s power and want to see miracles before they believe. God is not a magic lamp, He is not your servant or puppet. He is your master, not the other way around. We also learn that even seeing miracle after miracle doesn’t mean you truly know Christ. His disciples have been with Him for a long time and still don’t understand they can rely on Him for every need.
