[Jesus] immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha. Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. (Mark 8:10-11; Matthew 16:1)
HOW MANY MORE SIGNS COULD THESE PHARISEES POSSIBLY NEED TO SEE??? Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8) Jesus was just as frustrated with them as we should be, but are we? With all that we have heard and learned, don't many of us, hearing the same thing, still not all believe the same thing? But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” (Mark 8:12) He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed. (Matthew 16:2-4)
This response should sound familiar, because He said a very similar thing to them before. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Matthew 12:38-41; see THE GOSPEL:Once Freed, Don't Go Back)
And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees [and the Sadducees*] and the leaven of Herod.” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” (Mark 8:13-16; Matthew 16:5-7*) But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “[Oh you of little faith*] Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” (Mark 8:17-20; Matthew 16:8-10*) The twelve disciples are no more observant or understanding than the Pharisees; yet another frustration for Jesus.
One side note we should observe, but we won't go into depth now because it will come up in a future lesson: Jesus first fed 5,000 Jews and had "twelve" baskets left over, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Isreal. Then Jesus fed 4,000 Gentiles and had "seven" baskets left over, symbolizing completion. (read The Biblical Meaning of the Number Seven) The Apostle Paul explains, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek [Non-Jews, Gentiles]. (Romans 1:16) This Truth is also explained, as the Apostle John observed Christ, as He was saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the [twelve] tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,... (Revelations 7:3-4, 9)
So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?” (Mark 8:21) How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:11-12) The same is true for us today. Just because someone "looks" righteous and "sounds" righteous and "acts" righteous does not mean what they're teaching is right! Jesus called the Pharisees out before, Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ [Isaiah 29:13] ” (Matthew 15:7-9; Mark 7:6-7)
In order for us to perceive and understand, have our hearts softened, have eyes to see, have ears to hear, and able to remember The Truth, we have to know and study the Word of God for ourselves, through the discernment the Holy Spirit; and then when we hear the teaching of God's Word, we should also hear the voice of Christ Jesus saying, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." (John 7:16-18)
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