Overcoming Faithlessness! Matthew 16:1-12 Mark 8:11-21; Luke 12:54-56

Matthew 16:1-3 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 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.

Matthew 16:4-8 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. 5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 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.” 8 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?

Matthew 16:9-12 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.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

The Pharisees and the Sadducees! TWO Religious Sects The Pharisees and the Sadducees! The Pharisees believed in the supernatural, such as angels, demons, heaven, hell, and so on. They were formalists, tradition-worshipers, and self-righteous - Mtt. 15 & 23; Mk 7. The Sadducees do not believe in the supernatural, they only believe the FIVE books of Moses. They were skeptical, rationalist, and free-thinkers - Matthew 22:23, Acts 23:8.

1. Tempt NOT The LORD! - Vs 1-4  “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah." – Deut. 6:16 (Luke 4:12) Matthew 16:1, "Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven." Matthew 4:3, "Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

What is the SIGN of Jonah? What is it significance in this text? Matthew 12:38-42, "... 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish,…” John 12:31-33, "31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,….”

Is There Any SIGN For Us? ANSWER is YES! CAN YOU SEE THE SIGNS? NOT for confirmation as the coming Messiah for Israel! BUT as the JUDGE of the whole world! The SIGN of the Second Coming! CAN YOU SEE THE SIGNS? "of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do,..” - 1 Chro. 12:32.

What are some of the SIGNS? 1 Thess. 5:1-11 (Matthew 24:1-34) outline some SIGNS to take note of. "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a THIEF IN THE NIGHT. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden DESTRUCTION COMES…” – 1 Thess. 5:1-11. BELOVED COMFORT EACH OTHER and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER!

2. False Teachings - Hypocrites! - Vs 5-12 Luke 12:1 says, "... “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.“ Matthew 16:6,12, "...“Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”... 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.“ Hebrews 4:2, "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in those who heard it." Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for….”

How Do We Increase Our FAITH? Romans 10:17, "17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

In Conclusion Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the MESSIAH? Do you believe He is COMING AGAIN? Acts 1:11, " .. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”