Mark 8:11–21

The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven—Matthew 16:1–4

¹¹The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven. 

¹²With a deep sigh he asked, “Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!” 

¹³Then he left them there. 

The Yeast of the Pharisees—Matthew 16:5–12

He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. ¹⁴The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 

¹⁵Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!” 

¹⁶They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread. 

¹⁷Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed? ¹⁸Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember? ¹⁹When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” 

They told him, “Twelve.” 

²⁰“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” 

They answered him, “Seven.” 

²¹He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?”