161 Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. 2 He told them, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight; 3 red sky at morning, sailors take warning.' You find it easy enough to forecast the weather - why can't you read the signs of the times? 4 An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
5 On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread. 6 In the meantime, Jesus said to them, "Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast." 7 Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do. 8 Jesus knew what they were doing and said, "Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers! 9 Haven't you caught on yet? Don't you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up? 10 Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected? 11 Haven't you realized yet that bread isn't the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast." 12 Then they got it: that he wasn't concerned about eating, but teaching - the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 16:1-12
Commentary on Matthew 16:1-4
(Read Matthew 16:1-4)
The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct; yet they joined against Christ. But they desired a sign of their own choosing: they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. It is great hypocrisy, when we slight the signs of God's ordaining, to seek for signs of our own devising.
Commentary on Matthew 16:5-12
(Read Matthew 16:5-12)
Christ speaks of spiritual things under a similitude, and the disciples misunderstand him of carnal things. He took it ill that they should think him as thoughtful about bread as they were; that they should be so little acquainted with his way of preaching. Then understood they what he meant. Christ teaches by the Spirit of wisdom in the heart, opening the understanding to the Spirit of revelation in the word.