I. The Teaching of Pharisees and Sadducees
- Matthew 16:1-12; The Pharisees and Sadducees had already seen and heard Jesus do numerous miracles in the past but they still wanted more signs. As we mentioned before, they were supposed to be the scholars of God's Word yet they could not discern the signs of the messiah. We, sometimes, have doubts about God and we ask Him for signs of His existence. When this happens, just look at our environment, the beauties of this world, and the life that we have. These are all the signs that we need. Jesus said in Luke 4:12 and Matthew 4:7, "not to put the Lord, your God to the test". When we do, it shows that we have little faith in Him. We need to trust Him in everything we do and He will take care of us and bless us.
- In verses 5-12, Jesus told His disciples to “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” When the disciples heard this, they thought that Jesus was referring to the bread that they did not bring in the journey. Jesus answered by reminding them of the two miracles that he just did, feeding 5000 and 4000 people with a few bread and fishes. Jesus then explained that the leaven was the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They are false teachings that focuses on the works and the religious customs and traditions rather than the relationship and loving God. They are the dead ends that the blind guides try to lead us to. There are numerous churches nowadays that does not preach the good news but instead poison our hearts and minds. There are teachings that are not Bible-based and are definitely man-made. We need to pray to God that He send us the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us to discern His Scriptures. Let us read and study the bible ourselves so we can understand the truth and discern the false teachings. If they are teachers of the Word of God, then they will follow the Holy Bible and nothing else. Other teachings would be considered leaven such as the Pharisees' and the Sadducees'.
- In verses 5-12, Jesus told His disciples to “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” When the disciples heard this, they thought that Jesus was referring to the bread that they did not bring in the journey. Jesus answered by reminding them of the two miracles that he just did, feeding 5000 and 4000 people with a few bread and fishes. Jesus then explained that the leaven was the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They are false teachings that focuses on the works and the religious customs and traditions rather than the relationship and loving God. They are the dead ends that the blind guides try to lead us to. There are numerous churches nowadays that does not preach the good news but instead poison our hearts and minds. There are teachings that are not Bible-based and are definitely man-made. We need to pray to God that He send us the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us to discern His Scriptures. Let us read and study the bible ourselves so we can understand the truth and discern the false teachings. If they are teachers of the Word of God, then they will follow the Holy Bible and nothing else. Other teachings would be considered leaven such as the Pharisees' and the Sadducees'.
II. The Weak and the Strong
- In Romans 14:1-4, Paul is telling us Christians not to reject our brothers and sisters in faith, no matter how strong their faith is. The church is open to everyone: to the murderers, adulterers, rapist, idolaters, thieves, and liers. The Christian church is not an exclusive club only for the strong in faith. Remember that Jesus "did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mark 2:17). We need to abstain judging our fellow Christians in matters that are non-essential. This is a question that many of the non-believers ask, "If Christianity is the religion of the true God, how come they have different denominationals?". The answer is that it does not matter what the denominational are because they only differ in the non-essentials in our faith such as baptism and communion. What matters is that they are teaching the word of God, as what is written in the Bible, and that the corner stone of our faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which brings us hope that we will have eternal life.
III. Proverbs for Today/8:27-32
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;[a]
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
IV. Additional Old Testament Reading
Exodus 30:11-38, Exodus 31, and Psalms 32:1-11
Exodus 30:11-38, Exodus 31, and Psalms 32:1-11
