Matthew 16:1-12

The Demand for a Sign

16¹ And the Pharisees and Sadducees having come, tempting, did question him, to shew to them a sign from the heaven, ² and he answering said to them, 'Evening having come, ye say, Fair weather, for the heaven is red, ³ and at morning, Foul weather to-day, for the heaven is red—gloomy; hypocrites, the face of the heavens indeed ye do know to discern, but the signs of the times ye are not able! ⁴ 'A generation evil and adulterous doth seek a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet;' and having left them he went away.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

⁵ And his disciples having come to the other side, forgot to take loaves, ⁶ and Jesus said to them, 'Beware, and take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;' ⁷ and they were reasoning in themselves, saying, 'Because we took no loaves.' ⁸ And Jesus having known, said to them, 'Why reason ye in yourselves, ye of little faith, because ye took no loaves? ⁹ do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many hand-baskets ye took up? ¹⁰ nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? ¹¹ how do ye not understand that I did not speak to you of bread—to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?' ¹² Then they understood that he did not say to take heed of the leaven of the bread, but of the teaching, of the Pharisees and Sadducees.