Introduction
During this time, the scenario was that Jesus was facing
three type of people:
a)
The Romans
b)
Herodians who were placed there by Caesar
c)
Jewish shariah courts – they were the Pharisees
and Sadducees
The Scribes who were mostly Pharisees were religious
professionals.
Usually the Pharisees and Sadducees were opponents who were
at odds with each other, however, they had an alliance to confront Jesus. In fact, the Pharisees, Sadducees, the
Priests, the Scribes, the Herodians formed alliance to get rid of Jesus. They had no power from God, but they had
religious power and using this power to attack Jesus and to bring benefits to
themselves.
Jesus was walking in many minefields. How can He avoid these minefields?
In Matthew chapter 6:1 the Jews demanded a sign from
heaven. In Vs 2, 3, 4 Jesus said there
was only the sign of Jonah. If the Jews
knew what he was talking about they would have known the answers. Jesus used this parable to a) concealed the
truth to those who did not want to understand b) revealed the truth to those
who understood. The disciples were
concerned with not bringing the bread in Vs. 5.
But Jesus rebuked them saying didn’t they witnessed the feeding of the
5,000 and 4,000 with a few loaves and a few fishes? They were concerned with the physical whereas
Jesus was concerned with the spiritual.
Vs. 11 Jesus warned about the yeasts of the Pharisees and
Sadducees. Jesus was actually talking
about the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Vs.14 to Vs.16. Jesus asked the disciples who
they though He was. Simon said He is the
Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus
replied that God gave him the knowledge.
Vs.21 Jesus said preaching and teaching to the people was more important
than miraculous signs. For many had seen
signs and wonders and yet did not believe in God.
The Parable of Jonah – representing Jesus dying for 3 days
and 3 nights before being resurrected.
Peter that this could not happened, but Jesus rebuked him saying, “Satan
get behind me”. Vs. 24 the Cross is central to the Gospel. The work of the Cross is important. It is suffering which is the mark of the
Cross. We are to take up our Crosses
daily. We are to suffer when we follow
Jesus.
We are saved by faith but we are rewarded by our works.
Christianity and
Politics
Politics and religion had an unholy alliance in this
scenario. The Jews asked Jesus to show
signs from heaven because they wanted to trap Him. The two groups of religious people, that is
the Pharisees and Sadducees had conflicted beliefs. The Sadducees did not believe in the
Resurrection whereas the Pharisees were religious fundamentalists who kept
strict rules and laws. In a way, the
Sadducees were not so strict in their beliefs.
However, laws and rules were not as important as the message from
God. To the Pharisees following strict
rules and laws were more important to them.
The actions were more important than the spirit of the actions. They were majoring on the minor so to
speak. The Pharisees and Sadducees
avoided each other. The Sadducees were
political elites. The Pharisees were
religious elites.
Significance of signs
and wonders
There are two types a) signs of physical wonders e.g the
weather where sky may turned red etc b) spiritual significant.
Jesus was interested in the spiritual signs, those were
signs of building our faith in God.
Jesus used the sign of Jonah as He was preaching to those who wanted to
hear and understand. Those who did not
want to hear they have to move on. The
sign of Jonah was the sign of the Cross.
The Cross is planted into the heart of evangelism, the Gospel and
Salvation. The first person to gain from
the Cross was the thief who begged Jesus to save him.
Pre-occupation of the
disciples
The disciples were interested in the physical state saying
“we brought no bread”. Jesus addressed this issue in parabolic manner. In other example, like the woman at the
well. She was talking about physical
thirst but Jesus addressed her spiritual thirst and that He could give her
spring of water so she will never thirst again.
Power of recall
The disciples were easy to forget that Jesus had fed the
5,000 and 4,000 with few loaves and fishes.
Why talked about not bringing bread?
We usually do not connect physical things with spiritual things.
Leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees
Leaven in the yeasts initials a chemical reaction in the
bread that makes it to expand. Leaven
signified evil.
a)
Leaven of the Pharisees – dead religion. It kills through spirituality. Jesus said they were going through the motion
rather than worshipping God.
b)
Leaven of the Sadducees – liberal theology. E,g did not believe in the Resurrection. Watered down theology, cut away parts of the
Scripture that did not conformed to what they wanted. We need parallel truth – faith and work. They are on both strips of a railway
track. Grace balance by obedience to
God. Son-ship balanced by servant
hood. Christ centred Christianity. Revealetion is the heart of faith as revealed
by the Holy Spirit.
Good intentions doe not serve God. E.g Peter’s good intention when he said Jesus
should not die. But Jesus’ intentions
were always God’s intentions. E.g at the
Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cried “Your will be done”.
Christian discipleship
To follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves. We are to follow Him with passion. We should not gamble our salvation. Work out our salvation with fear and
trembling.
We are saved by faith, but we will be rewarded by how we
live, serve and follow Jesus.
