Matthew 16:1-12. Evil and Adulterous Generation Matthew 16:1-4 Sign seekers (malicious testers) Sign seekers (malicious testers) Evil motives (hypocrisy)

Matthew 16:1-12Matthew 16:1-12

Evil and Adulterous GenerationEvil and Adulterous GenerationMatthew 16:1-4Matthew 16:1-4

Evil and Adulterous GenerationEvil and Adulterous GenerationMatthew 16:1-4Matthew 16:1-4

• Sign seekers (malicious testers)Sign seekers (malicious testers)• Evil motives (hypocrisy) exposed Evil motives (hypocrisy) exposed

(15:7-9)(15:7-9)–Abundant signs available, 15:29-31Abundant signs available, 15:29-31–Ability to discern, 16:2-3Ability to discern, 16:2-3–Wickedness rebuked, 16:4Wickedness rebuked, 16:4

• Sign of Jonah, 16:4 (Matt 12:38-40)Sign of Jonah, 16:4 (Matt 12:38-40)2

Why Are You Following Jesus?Why Are You Following Jesus?(The Lord knows your motives)(The Lord knows your motives)

Why Are You Following Jesus?Why Are You Following Jesus?(The Lord knows your motives)(The Lord knows your motives)

• To test Christ? Matt 16:1 (2 Tim 3:7)To test Christ? Matt 16:1 (2 Tim 3:7)• To serve the flesh? John 6:26To serve the flesh? John 6:26• To be seen and praised by others? Matt 6:1To be seen and praised by others? Matt 6:1• To deflect criticism or hide sins? 1 Pet 2:16To deflect criticism or hide sins? 1 Pet 2:16• To escape persecution? Gal 6:12To escape persecution? Gal 6:12• To boast in your accomplishments? Gal 6:13To boast in your accomplishments? Gal 6:13• To criticize His disciples? Matt 15:1-2To criticize His disciples? Matt 15:1-2

3Lord departs from evil hearts (Matt 23:38)Lord departs from evil hearts (Matt 23:38)Lord departs from evil hearts (Matt 23:38)Lord departs from evil hearts (Matt 23:38)

• Doctrine of Pharisees and Sadducees…Doctrine of Pharisees and Sadducees…– Denied Jesus is the Christ, Matt 16:1, 13-16Denied Jesus is the Christ, Matt 16:1, 13-16– Bound human traditions while hypocritically Bound human traditions while hypocritically

excluding themselves, Luke 12:1; Matt 15:6-7; excluding themselves, Luke 12:1; Matt 15:6-7; 23:423:4– Sadducees denied immortality Sadducees denied immortality

and resurrection, Acts 23:8and resurrection, Acts 23:8

4

Beware the Leaven of the Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees Pharisees and Sadducees (16:5-12)(16:5-12)

Beware the Leaven of the Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees Pharisees and Sadducees (16:5-12)(16:5-12)

• Discernment is essential, Matt 16:8-9, 11Discernment is essential, Matt 16:8-9, 11• Know and hold the true doctrine in order Know and hold the true doctrine in order

to discern the leaven of false doctrine, to discern the leaven of false doctrine, 2 Tim 1:13; 3:14; 2 Ths 2:1-32 Tim 1:13; 3:14; 2 Ths 2:1-3

• A will to obey + Hearing = Understanding A will to obey + Hearing = Understanding (“he shall know”), John 7:16-17 (8:32) (“he shall know”), John 7:16-17 (8:32)

5

Take Heed Take Heed Matt 16:6-7; Phil 1:9-11Matt 16:6-7; Phil 1:9-11

Take Heed Take Heed Matt 16:6-7; Phil 1:9-11Matt 16:6-7; Phil 1:9-11

• Be attentive to the Lord’s warningBe attentive to the Lord’s warning• Although they forgot to take bread, they Although they forgot to take bread, they

must never forget the leaven of error is must never forget the leaven of error is at workat work

• Constant vigilance is required, Jude 3-4Constant vigilance is required, Jude 3-4• Threat of error is real, Eph 4:14; 2 Jno 7-9Threat of error is real, Eph 4:14; 2 Jno 7-9• Apathy toward (the danger of) false Apathy toward (the danger of) false

doctrine is also a sin! Rev 2:14-16, 20doctrine is also a sin! Rev 2:14-16, 206

BewareBewareMatthew 16:6-7Matthew 16:6-7

BewareBewareMatthew 16:6-7Matthew 16:6-7

• They are at first slight and unimportant in They are at first slight and unimportant in appearance, Matt 13:33; Rom 16:17-18appearance, Matt 13:33; Rom 16:17-18

• They are insinuated into the soul They are insinuated into the soul unawares and silently, and are difficult to unawares and silently, and are difficult to detect, Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1detect, Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1

• They act gradually until they finally They act gradually until they finally corrupt and consume, 2 Tim 3:13corrupt and consume, 2 Tim 3:13

7

False Doctrines are Like False Doctrines are Like Leaven Leaven (Barnes’ Notes)(Barnes’ Notes)


• They most certainly have an effect, They most certainly have an effect, 1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:91 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9• They will permeate all the soul and They will permeate all the soul and

bring all of one’s faculties under bring all of one’s faculties under their control, 2 Pet 2:19their control, 2 Pet 2:19

8



• BewareBeware: Be sober and watchful, : Be sober and watchful, 1 Peter 5:8-91 Peter 5:8-9• TestTest what you are taught, knowing what you are taught, knowing

God is true, 1 Jno 4:1 (Rom 3:3-4)God is true, 1 Jno 4:1 (Rom 3:3-4)• Hold fastHold fast the pattern of sound words the pattern of sound words

2 Timothy 1:132 Timothy 1:139

What We Must DoWhat We Must DoWhat We Must DoWhat We Must Do

Documents

Matthew 16:1-12. Evil and Adulterous Generation Matthew 16:1-4 Sign seekers (malicious testers) Sign seekers (malicious testers) Evil motives (hypocrisy)