Bible Study Materials

Questionnaire

DON'T YOU REMEMBER?

Matthew 16:1-12
Key Verse: 16:9

“Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?”

1.    Read verses 1-4. As this event began, where was Jesus? (15:39) Who came to Jesus and for what purpose? How and why did Jesus rebuke them? Why should the religious leaders not need an additional sign? What is the sign of Jonah? (Compare 12:40) Why did Jesus leave them?

2.    Read verses 5-7. What concerned the disciples while crossing the lake? (5) What did Jesus warn them about? (6) What did he mean? (12) What did they think he meant and why? (7)

3.    Read verses 8-11a. Why did Jesus say that they had a “lack of faith” problem? On what other occasions, did Jesus say that they had a “lack of faith” or “little faith”? (6:30,31; 14:31) What should the disciples remember and understand? (9,10) What should we remember and understand? (Luke 8:15; Psalm 77:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:8,9)

4.    Read verses 11b,12. What is the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Why does Jesus compare their teaching to “yeast?” How can we guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Attachment:

• Matthew 16(1-12).que.docx

Message

DON’T YOU REMEMBER?

(Matthew 16:1-12)

“Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” (v. 9)

We need to remember many things in our daily lives. It’s okay to forget some minor things such as omitting grocery lists while shopping at Food Lion. However, there are very important things that we should remember. For example, Alex tries to remember what his professors have taught him throughout the semester to take his finals successfully. To me, at my workplace, it’s very important to remember my facility’s protocols to treat patients.

In today’s passage, Jesus asks his disciples, “Don’t you remember?” He reminds them of his previous miracles. Let’s think about what we need to remember especially in our spiritual life and why it is so important to remember.   

According to the previous passage, Jesus left the Gentile region and crossed the Sea of Galilee and went to the vicinity of Magadan, a variant spelling of Magdala, where it is considered as Mary Magdalen’s home time. (15:39; Mark 8:10). As Jesus returned to Galilee, he was again confronted by religious leaders. Look at verse 1. “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.” The Pharisees were one of the Jewish religious sects. The origin of the Pharisees is uncertain. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus recorded that first direct mention of the Pharisees was by around 135 B.C. The name Pharisee means the separated ones. The Pharisees perhaps meant to live a holy life and obey God, but eventually they became so legalistic and adherent to their own traditions. They honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from him. Consequently, they became self-righteous, hypocritical and spiritually blind.

The Sadducees were a religious and political sect. The root of the word, Sadducee means “to be righteous.” The Sadducees were priests, but not all priests were Sadducees. Many of them were also members of the supreme Jewish legal council, Sanhedrin. This party controlled the temple worship. They held only to the five books of Moses and rejected the traditions of the Pharisees. They denied resurrection, angels, spirits and the doctrine of reward and punishment. So naturally they became secular and sought wealth and power in this world by supporting political power and Rome.

Based on their teachings, values and way of livings, Pharisees and Sadducees were far different and they were enemies to each other and continually engaged in hostilities. However, they became friends when they were against Christ.

They came together to test Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. By this, they were again saying that they rejected all the signs Jesus had performed before their eyes. They were in effect asking Jesus to give them a sign more spectacular than healings and raising the dead, so they could believe. What was Jesus’ response? Look at verses 2-4. “He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”

They were careful observers of weather signs and could fairly well forecast whether the weather would be good or threatening. By these words Jesus reminds them that his power had been sufficiently manifested, so that they must have recognized the adventures of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Yet, they had been surrounded by spiritual signs relating to the person of Jesus Christ and had missed them all.

Jesus points out that it was because they were excessively occupied with earthly things and cared little about anything that related to the heavenly and spiritual life, so they became spiritually blind. Jesus called them a wicked and adulterous generation. Wicked means evil. They were not God’s servants, but Satan’s instruments. Adulterous generation means that their hearts were corrupted and far away from God. They worshiped idols that they made. Jesus said that the only sign they would receive was the sign of Jonah. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus had already taught them, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The sign of Jonah means Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. This is the ultimate sign of Jesus’ Messiahship. 

Jesus then left them and went away. It seems that Jesus hurriedly left them and went away. Based on today’s content, Jesus probably wanted to protect his disciples from the bad influence of the religious leaders. Look at verse 5. “When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.” Usually Jesus' disciples carried bread along with them because they were sometimes in desert or remote places. But they forgot to take bread. They were concerned about their next meals.

At this moment, Jesus says in verse 6, “‘Be careful,’ Jesus said to them. “‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Jesus warned his disciples against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, to whom he had just spoken. Jesus’ mention of yeast caused the disciples to think that he referred to their having forgotten to bring along bread.

But Jesus explained that he was not referring to their lack of bread and Jesus now teaches what the root of their worry about bread was. Look at verse 8. “Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?”

In Matthew’s Gospel, including today’s passage, Jesus used the phrase, “You of little faith” or “lack of faith” four times to his followers. In Matthew 6, when believers worry about what to eat, drink or wear, Jesus says, “…you of little faith.” He teaches that our heavenly Father even feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the field. He says, “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?” (Matthew 6:30-31)

Once Jesus and his disciples got into the boat and suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid.?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:23-26)

In Matthew 14, while Jesus’ disciples were struggling against the waves in their boat, Jesus walked on the lake. The disciples were terrified and cried out in fear, “It’s a ghost.” Jesus said to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” At that time, Peter boldly told, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “come.” Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:22-31)

To overcome their worries, fear and doubt, and increase their faith, Jesus now begins his history class. Look at verses 9-10, “Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” Jesus reminds his disciples of previous occasions when he had once multiplied five loaves and two fish so that he fed five thousand, and 12 basketfuls were left over. On another occasion, Jesus had multiplied seven loaves and fish so that he fed four thousand, and seven basketfuls were left over. So, the amount of food that his disciples had now was not the issue, for Jesus could care for such a need if it arose.

When we encounter difficulties and hardships in our lives, we may easily fall into worries, doubt and fear. At that moment, Jesus asks us, “Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember?” In the Bible, what does God want us to remember to overcome our unbelief and increase our faith?

First, God wants us to remember his words. God talks with us through his words. Each of us may have God’s words of promises in our lives. To me, Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” is an unshakeable God’s promise given to me. As he has promised, God has fed my family for the past 17 years of my mission life in America in spite of unstable social status and jobless condition. May God strengthen me to remember the word of promise again and again whatever my situation may be. In Luke 8:15, Jesus says, “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” When we hear the word and retain it and persevere, God produces a crop in our lives. It is important for us to remember the word of God and continually hold on to it in patience.

Second, God wants us to remember what he has done for our lives and for his people. In Psalm 77, in his deep distress, the author cries out to God for help. He groaned because he was too troubled to speak. However, he finally decides to remember something and says in verses 11,12, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” He remembers how God freed the Israelites from the slavery in Egypt by his mighty power. He remembers how God parted the Red Sea and his people crossed the sea. He remembers how God had led and cared for his people in the wilderness just as a shepherd leads his flock. By remembering God’s works and mighty deeds, the author was strengthened to pray to God and ask God’s mercy and help in his agony.

As God had worked for the Israelites, we have our own stories of God’s work in our lives. I see that Dr. Andrew repeatedly remembers God’s work about how God helped him during his dissertation defense in his Ph.D. study. Last Easter Worship Service, Alex remembered how God was with him in his difficult times during his high school years and college life. Likewise, Jesus wants us to continue to remember what he had done for his people in the Bible and what he has done in our lives. While remembering God’s works, may God bless us to continue to build up another beautiful stories of God’s work, so that we may testify God’s work to others!

Third, God wants us to remember the Gospel. Among what God has done for our lives, the most important thing that we need to remember is God’s salvation work through our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:8, 9, the Apostle Paul, before his departure to heaven, says to his spiritual son, Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel. for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.” Paul explains why he was suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. It was because he remembered Jesus Christ. Paul was a murderous persecutor of the church and enemy of Christ. But Christ endured all his sins and died on the cross. Paul realized that God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us and while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son. (Romans 5:8, 10)

Not only that, Christ rose again from the dead and the Risen Christ met Paul personally. Christ gave him new life’s direction to be a witness of Christ and glorious resurrection hope and eternal life. Based on God’s grace and hope, Paul eagerly participated in Christ’s suffering. Now Paul urges Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ and join with him in suffering for the kingdom of God. Remembering Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection for each of our lives makes us strong in God’s grace and gives us clear life’s direction and hope.

Jesus concludes his history class in verse 11. “How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” When they remember the events that Jesus fed five thousand and four thousand, their spiritual eyes were opened, and they were freed from the worries of bread. Then they understood that Jesus was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

In a broader sense, the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees refer to their bad influence through their teaching, value system, and way of living. In Matthew 13:33, Jesus used the word “yeast” in a good sense as the characteristics of the kingdom of God, spreading so powerfully to impact on others’ lives. Here yeast refers to bad influence, secretly and rapidly corrupting a person and community and nation. The yeast of the Pharisees can be their hypocrisy, legalism, and self-righteousness. The yeast of the Sadducees can be their secularism, humanism, and seeking worldly pleasure. Jesus teaches his disciples to guard against such yeast.

Today, the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees are still present. Rather, stronger than ever. The bad influence of ungodly teachings and culture rapidly spread on the internet. Many people including believers are influenced easily and corrupted. Yeast is invisible, so we need to have spiritual discernment to guard against such yeast. We can be alert in our prayers and renew our minds and hearts through our repentance based on the word of God. Apostle Paul urges the Corinthians in 5:7,8, “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” By the help of the Holy Spirit, we need spiritual struggle to get rid of old yeast and guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. May God strengthen us to keep our hearts pure and holy by guarding against the bad influence of the world!

In today’s passage, Jesus helps his disciples, who were concerned about bread. He challenges them by saying, “you of little faith” and helps them to remember what he has done for their lives. Jesus helps his disciples to fix their eyes on Jesus by casting out all worries, fear and doubt and grow in their faith. At the same time, he warns his disciples of the bad influence of God’s enemies and guards against them. Our faith can grow while we remember God’s grace and at the same time while we are fighting against all ungodly influence of the world. May God bless us to remember Jesus’ teaching and live by it!

Attachment:

• Matthew 16(1-12).mg.2023.docx