I came across this passage in Matthew 16 early in the week, and I’ve not gotten past it. It keeps rumbling around in my head.

The Pharisees and Sadducees continue their testing and harassment of Jesus, this time by demanding a sign from heaven. In effect–if you’re the Messiah–prove it! (Matthew 16:1)

Jesus, in the next three verses, shuts them down culminating with a strong rebuke,

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” – Matthew 16:4

Next Jesus and the boys get in the boat, and the text tells us that the boys forgot to pack lunch. They are thinking about lunch, but this last encounter with the religious leaders continues to bug Jesus.

He turns to the guys and gives them a pretty strong warning.

“Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6

The boys miss read this warning and go off trying to wiggle out of trouble with Jesus for forgetting lunch, but that is not what Jesus was warning them about.

What struck me is this warning.

It’s akin to then warning He gives about the danger of riches after His encounter with the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10,

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” – Mark 10:23

When Jesus is hanging out with sinners and prostitutes, you don’t even hear Him warning the boys about bad company or the dangers of sexual sin. But this religious temptation is serious, and He knows it’s the life these boys will face every day going forward.

You see, this attack from the religious men poses a real threat. Their challenge temped Jesus. Remember He was tempted in every area that we are. And when He experienced this temptation in the flesh, He felt compelled by the Father to warn these future leaders of the Church about religious temptations.

What temptations show up here it this little confrontation?

1) Manipulate your gifts and callings for your own gain. It’s easy to want to use that which God gives us to make a name for ourselves, to “grow our ministries” and to impress people. It feels good to hear the praise of men, and feel the rush that comes with man’s approval.

2) Prove yourself to men. It would be so easy for Jesus to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to these men that He is the Christ, but these men need to open their hearts to Him before they will ever learn such a thing.

It is right here in Matthew 16 that Peter comes out with this very revelation, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) and Jesus affirms this understandng can only come directly from the Father.

I’m sure we could dig out more aspects to this temptation, but I want to keep this brief. Suffice it to say, Jesus takes relationship with the Father and with us seriously. It is not something to be trafficked.

Religious sin is as bad, or worse than sexual sin or a covetous heart. The only sinners Jesus really ever “got after” were the righteous ones, the religious leaders. The unrighteous he wooed, the righteous, he slammed.

Thanks for stopping by today,

Have a great first day of summer.

Ben