Thy Strong Word — Matthew 16:1-12. Unbelievable mercy to unbelievable sinners: I saw the sign and it didn’t open my eyes.

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Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 16:1-12.

The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted a sign, even though signs were everywhere, and Jesus once again proves that all we need is Jonah. If you don’t see Jesus in Jonah’s three days in the big fish and his resurrection, one will not understand the cross and empty tomb. This is why we all need “fight the good fight” to keep grounded in the truth of Christ as our bread of life. The leaven of false teaching can grow without us knowing which is why we repeat the promises of God in Christ so that we may have the peace and joy of His sign of salvation upon us. “Lord Jesus Christ, as You are the greater Jonah, keep us from false teaching and the cares of this world. Fill us with truth that we may understand and believe in Your gracious salvation. Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Matthew 16:1-12

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them,[a] “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

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Footnotes

Matthew 16:2 Some manuscripts omit the following words to the end of verse 3

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org