Read Matthew 16: 1 - 12
What is the "sign of Jonah"? What is the "yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees"? The sign of Jonah I want to see. The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees I want to avoid at all costs. So what are these things?
Some possibilities ...
1. from verses 1 - 4: More questions ... questions from the influential people ... the important people. Questions designed to test and intimidate ... questions designed to trap. Jesus is unwilling to play their game. They wanted a "sign" ... Jesus said, "You've had one already - the sign of Jonah". No more ... no more signs ... no more discussion. And Jesus walked away.
The Greek word translated "test" in verse 1 is peirazo. It is the exact same word that Matthew uses in chapter 4 when he described Jesus' temptations by Satan. These men are looking for a "sign" alright ... but a sign that can be used against Jesus.
What is the "sign of Jonah"? It was Jonah himself. Jonah himself went to Nineveh ... Jonah himself preached in that wicked place and people repented and turned to God. It was not the storm. It was not the fish. It was Jonah. And now God has sent His son, himself, to this wicked place, calling people back to the living God. If Jesus cannot convince someone - then nothing can. Jesus IS the sign from God. And there is nothing else. That's all there is ...
Applications? Can you tell when someone asks questions about your faith with honest interest or even curiosity and when they are asking to trap you, or to intimidate you? It's often hard for us to know the difference. But what I do know is: honest questions? answer and discuss and spend time in conversation. trap questions? don't bother to engage ... don't debate ... don't waste the time and/or energy. Of course the challenge is to know which is in front of you. So we stay 'prayed up' about such things - asking God, through His Spirit, to keep our hearts and minds sensitive and sharp to know the difference. We'll make mistakes in judgement from time to time. But ...
Lord, give us wisdom to know when to engage a conversation ... and when to walk away. And give us eyes to really "see" Jesus.
2. from verses 5 - 12: I think the brief exchange with the Pharisees and Sadducees is playing in Jesus' mind as he walks with his disciples. The "other side" of the Sea of Galilee would have been the Gentile side. That means there would be no walking into a bakery or a lunch spot for these Jewish men. When Jesus heard the disciples talking about the forgotten bread ... his mind immediately goes to a common metaphor ... that of yeast. To the Jew of the day, yeast had two meanings - one literal and one figurative. Literally, it was the bit of fermented dough that is put into new dough so that it would rise. We know that one. (You who are bread bakers know it better than some of us who buy our bread!) On a figurative level, leaven, or yeast, was symbolic of evil influence. Yeast was fermentation - hence rotten. Yeast permeated any mass of dough into which it was inserted. Hence evil influence permeates anything it is allowed to enter.
With that application, the disciples "get it". So what do we know about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees about which Jesus gave this most serious warning?
We have looked at much of the Pharisee teaching ... they saw religion in terms of laws and commandments and rules and regulations. It was all outward. It was ritual. Internal transformation was not a part of the mix.
Application? Watch your definition of religion. Are you more concerned about heart transformation or about your rituals and outward appearance? Do you judge others by such things? Beware the yeast of the Pharisees.
Who are these Sadducees? The Sadducees rejected the oral and the scribal law completely. (You can see why they were usually at odds with Pharisees) They were very political. They were the collaborationist party ... and were very willing to work with the Roman government to retain their own positions and wealth and privileges. They were a small party of the wealthy aristocracy of the day. Jesus may very well have been warning his disciples to not equate the kingdom of God with earthly wealth earthly position. He may very well have been warning them to not think that political stuff in earthly kingdoms and governments can solve the spiritual sickness of mankind. He may have been telling them to not pin their hopes on political reform or political action.
Application? Quit equating wealth in this world with spirituality - or special status with God. Don't trust it - trust God. Don't pin your hopes on any political party ... or candidate ... or bill ... or policy. Pin your hopes on God - alone. Always remember, the kingdom of God is not the same as any kingdom of this world, any government of this world, any political system of this world. Beware the yeast of the Sadducees.
Lord, our desire is to place our trust, our hope, our futures securely in your capable and able hands. Guard our hearts and our minds from being impressed unduly by earthly success and influence. We pray for our governing officials ... but our hope is in You. We pray for our churches ... but our hope is in You.
The Pharisees (and their scribes, the rabbis) ruled over the synagogues throughout Israel. They were the authorities of the law of Moses, interpreting and enforcing it. Thus they were also political leaders, for the law of Moses was the "constitution" for the kingdom of Israel. And, as you say, they focused on particular rituals (from the law) as the true signs of "purity" before God.
ReplyDeleteThe Sadducees ruled over the temple in Jerusalem. They were the chief priests who administered the money-changing and sacrifices, all done to enrich themselves. The high priest officiated over the Sanhedrin, the national council (made up of Sadducees, Pharisees, and elders). So they were also political leaders, who used religion to empower themselves in the kingdom of Israel.
These rival "parties" now join in opposing Jesus (in Mt. 16:1), because he exposed their evil and announced the beginning of his new kingdom, where he was king (over his faithful disciples).