Matthew 16:1–12

The Demand for a Miracle

16^*Some Pharisees and Sadducees who came to Jesus wanted to trap him, so they asked him to perform a miracle for them, to show that God approved of him. ²But Jesus answered, “When the sun is setting, you say, ‘We are going to have fine weather, because the sky is red.’ ³And early in the morning you say, ‘It is going to rain, because the sky is red and dark.’ You can predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs concerning these times!^{n 4*}How evil and godless are the people of this day! You ask me for a miracle? No! The only miracle you will be given is the miracle of Jonah.”

So he left them and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

⁵When the disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake, they forgot to take any bread. ^6*Jesus said to them, “Take care; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷They started discussing among themselves, “He says this because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸Jesus knew what they were saying, so he asked them, “Why are you discussing among yourselves about not having any bread? How little faith you have! ^9*Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men? How many baskets did you fill? ^10*And what about the seven loaves for the four thousand men? How many baskets did you fill? ¹¹How is it that you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

¹²Then the disciples understood that he was not warning them to guard themselves from the yeast used in bread but from the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.