Matthew 16
In Matthew 15, JESUS healed a multitude of people at the sea of Galilee and also feed four thousand plus people! This was not just a one time thing, HE had healed many people Yet in chapter 16 the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test HIM!
Mat 16:1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and TESTING HIM ASKED THAT HE WOULD SHOW THEM A SIGN FROM HEAVEN.
These religious men have seen many signs from JESUS this is why they asked for a sign, but HE didn’t come to amuse and wow them, HE CAME TO FULFILL THE SCRIPTURES. These religious men, Knowing the scriptures, were completely blind to it’s fulfillment before their very eyes.
Mat 16:2-4 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; (3) and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! YOU KNOW HOW TO DISCERN THE FACE OF THE SKY, BUT YOU CANNOT DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. (4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
These religious men knew the scriptures intellectually, but they never let the scriptures enter their hard hearts!
Mat 16:6-7 Then Jesus said to them, “TAKE HEED AND BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES.” (7) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
Here is own disciples, who knew who HE was, who called HIM their teacher thought HE was annoyed because they didn’t bring any bread! The religious men were blind to the truth, and HIS disciples lacked understanding! HE wasn’t annoyed, and it wasn’t another parable for them to figure it out yet they reasoned among themselves!
Mat 16:8-11 But Jesus, BEING AWARE OF IT, said to them, “O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, why do you reason among yourselves BECAUSE YOU HAVE BROUGHT NO BREAD? (9) DO YOU NOT YET UNDERSTAND, OR REMEMBER THE FIVE LOAVES OF THE FIVE THOUSAND AND HOW MANY BASKETS YOU TOOK UP? (10) NOR THE SEVEN LOAVES OF THE FOUR THOUSAND AND HOW MANY LARGE BASKETS YOU TOOK UP? (11) HOW IS IT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT I DID NOT SPEAK TO YOU CONCERNING BREAD?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
HE expects us to learn and understand the scriptures; that the scriptures point to HIM. We need to know who HE truly is.
Jer 9:23-24 THUS SAYS THE LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; (24) BUT LET HIM WHO GLORIES GLORY IN THIS, THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, THAT I AM THE LORD, EXERCISING LOVINGKINDNESS, JUDGMENT, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE EARTH. FOR IN THESE I DELIGHT,” SAYS THE LORD.
Seek the LORD not just intellectually, but with all of your heart, soul and mind!
Jer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Deu 4:29 … YOU WILL SEEK THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM IF YOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.