*Matthew 15:32-16:12
Jesus miraculously feeds four thousand people, then warns his disciples about the Pharisees’ desire for signs.
- Feeding of the Four Thousand:
- Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds following him, performs another miraculous feeding.
- With only seven loaves of bread and a few fish, he feeds a multitude of four thousand men, plus women and children.
- After everyone has eaten their fill, seven baskets of leftovers are collected.
- This miracle demonstrates Jesus’s abundant provision and care for his followers, regardless of their numbers.
- Demand for a Sign:
- Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven to prove his authority.
- Jesus rebukes them, highlighting their hypocrisy for being able to discern weather signs but not the signs of the times.
- He refuses to perform a sign for them, recognizing their hardened hearts and lack of genuine faith.
- Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees:
- Jesus warns his disciples to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, likening them to leaven that spreads throughout dough.
- Initially, the disciples misunderstand Jesus’s metaphor, thinking he refers to physical bread.
- Jesus clarifies that he is warning them about the spiritual danger of the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ teachings, which can corrupt true faith.
- Through this interaction, Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment and staying true to his teachings amidst conflicting ideologies.
15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
15:33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 15:34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
15:35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
15:37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
15:38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
15:39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.
16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
16:7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 16:10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 16:11 How is it that 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? 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.