February 25, 2010
Lookin' gooood! (and that's the problem)
Matthew 16:1-12
Sue Bohlin
Central Truth
We need to examine carefully the teaching of those in spiritual authority to see if it lines up with the Word of God and the heart of God. Just because people have a platform and a microphone doesn't mean they're right.
Key Verse | Matthew 16:12
Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:12)
Matthew 16:1-12
The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs
1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, 1 16:2 Some manuscripts omit the following words to the end of verse 3 “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? 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 teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 16:1-12
The problem with what the Pharisees and Sadducees taught wasn’t just about their religious statements, but rather the even deeper difficulty of what their words and actions taught about what a Yahweh-follower looked like. The dark, self-centered hearts of the Pharisees and Sadducees produced dangerous teachings and examples. Their hearts were focused on external appearances, ranging from the Pharisees’ legalistic rule-keeping that made them feel justified in judging anyone else who didn’t follow the unwritten “tradition of the elders” (Matthew 15:2), to the Sadducees’ focus on the worldly and political influence they wielded.
That “leaven” is just as present today. My heart is heavy with the newly shared burden of a friend who grew up as an MK (missionary kid) in South America. Her best friends were other MKs, but several of them disappeared from the mission field with no good-byes and no explanations (and no Internet for maintaining contact) because someone in the family had fallen; a teenager got pregnant, or a dad fell in adultery. There was no room for repentance and restoration because “the ministry” (code for “external appearance”) was more important than the people.
Another friend’s marriage was severely strained by his mean, controlling, verbally abusive behavior. When his wife insisted on counseling, the counselor told this seminary graduate, “You’re a 24-karat gold-plated Pharisee. All show on the outside, but your heart is dark, angry, and hurtful.” Those were words of life to my friend, who wanted his heart to be solid gold, not just the outside plating.
In our family we are still healing from the wounds of someone in ministry who used other people and devious means to inflict great pain while continuing to look innocent and godly on the outside. We heard from a stream of others who had experienced the same knife in the back. This is why I deeply appreciate Watermark’s values of transparency, authenticity, and commitment to leading Christ-followers to submit our hearts to the Lordship of Jesus instead of just looking good on the outside. Because leaven stinks—and it hurts.
Discussion Questions
1. If you submitted to a moral x-ray, would the films reveal a disturbing darkness in your heart? Where should your heart be?
2. If others look at you and think, "Oooh! Shiny!," is that because of lookin' gooood on the outside, or because Jesus is shining out from the inside?
3. Have you been wounded by someone who continued to look great to everyone else while inflicting pain on you? Would you be willing to submit that wound to the healing of the Great Physician and allow Him to help you forgive the offender?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Jesus warned His disciples about people who would teach them wrong things. How can you decide if something is wrong teaching?