Read
The Yeast of the Pharisees
(Matthew 16.5-12)
14The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
16The disciples talked this over and said to each other, “He must be saying this because we don't have any bread.”
17Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you talking about not having any bread? Don't you understand? Are your minds still closed? 18 Are your eyes blind and your ears deaf? Don't you remember 19how many baskets of leftovers you picked up when I fed those 5,000 people with only five small loaves of bread?”
“Yes,” the disciples answered. “There were twelve baskets.”
20Jesus then asked, “And how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up when I broke seven small loaves of bread for those 4,000 people?”
“Seven,” they answered.
21“Don't you know what I am talking about by now?” Jesus asked.
Reflect
This short story is full of meaning for the reader. Now at sea and heading to the confines of Palestine, the disciples are concerned that they only have one loaf for the thirteen people in the boat. The two incredible multiplications of chapter six and eight have gone right by them. Their actions and attitudes remind Jesus of how religious and political types react to him. For the third time in the Gospel Jesus directly challenges them (see 4:13 and 7:18). But this time it is much more severe. By providing echoes from Isaiah in verses seventeen and eighteen, he is comparing them to unrepentant Israel. It is little wonder that two times in this paragraph he asks, “Do you still not understand?”
Understand and see what? Remember what? There is no straight answer to that question in the text. Jesus had already shown them the mysteries of God’s rule in chapter four. Pharisees and Herod did not have access to those truths. Needless to say, Jesus wrestles with their incomprehension.
So he invites them to do the math! He invites them to confront the corruption and malicious power of evil in their own lives that is symbolized by yeast. He wants his disciples to confront their own unbelief.
The use of bread invites the reader to think back to how God provided manna for his people while they were journeying from Egypt. This great saving event, now re-enacted by Jesus, underscores that he is greater than Moses and he can meet all human needs whatever they might be.
We have even greater signs to help us understand. We know about the resurrection and Jesus’ ascent into heaven, and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let’s keep our eyes open!
Respond
Lord Jesus, I know that I often do not understand, nor see, nor remember what you are up to in my life and my world. Forgive me, I ask. Thank you for these stories that refresh my memory so that I can trust you more.
Glenn Smith
Dr. Glenn Smith is married to Sandra and together they have three daughters, Jenna, Julia and Christa and two granddaughters They are the pastors of a missional community network in their church in Montréal – a multi-site congregation in five locations. Glenn did his graduate studies at the Université d’Ottawa and his doctoral thesis at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago. He was the Executive Director of Christian Direction in Montreal 1983 – 2018. He is the Dean of the Faculty of Practical Theology at Presbyterian College at McGill University and the the Institut de théologie pour la francophonie, accredited by Université Laval. He also teaches in Haïti. Publications: co-author of Espoir pour la ville; Dieu dans la cité (Hope for the city, God in the city); Following Jesus: God invites us to transformative discipleship and author of City Air Makes You Free.