Morning Psalms 96; 147:1-11

First Reading Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

Second Reading Galatians 5:1-15

Gospel Reading Matthew 16:1-12

Evening Psalms 132; 134

 

Matthew 16:1-12

 

1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3And 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. 4An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

 

5When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6Jesus said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7They said to one another, “It is because we have brought no bread.” 8And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 12Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees

 

The great philosopher Socrates once warned his students to be careful about who their teacher was because a teacher is someone you let into your own soul (this according to Plato, a student of Socrates). We hardly let anyone into our own house these days. What wouldn’t we do to protect our souls? Jesus offers his disciples a similar warning. He knows that they will face temptations and influences in the world—temptations to different theologies or understandings God, attractive shortcuts to detract from the Gospel. He says, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Their teaching must have been attractive. The Pharisees promised the restoration of Israel through a renewed holiness and emphasis on the law. The Sadducees promised something similar through a kind of cultural and spiritual accommodation to the religious status quo. It would be easy to fall victim to either way of thinking—that the kingdom of God would come according to the efforts of the disciples, or that there was little needed to do to receive something of God’s intended future. But Jesus doesn’t let his disciples off the hook that easily. They have been invited into God’s own mission—why would they settle for anything less? We have the same temptations. Our teachers are in politics and media and the books we buy and the podcasts we consume. These can all be good. But it’s worth remembering that Jesus wants you to think about who you let into your soul. They may be good, but are they good for your soul? Are they just more bad yeast?

 

God, help us to discern between the ways we want to go and the way you have put before our feet. Lead us by faith, in the grace of Jesus Christ, all the way to the fullness of your presence. We pray through Christ, our Lord. Amen.