Read Matthew 16:5–12
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Matthew 16:5 highlight having come to the other side? What had they forgotten? But what two things does Jesus tell them to do (Matthew 16:6)? To take heed and beware of what? Whose leaven? What do they say among whom (Matthew 16:7)? Who is aware of it (Matthew 16:8)? What does He call them? What does He ask them about their reasoning? About what does He question their understanding (Matthew 16:9)? And their understanding about what else (Matthew 16:10)? And their understanding about what else (Matthew 16:11)? What do they then understand that He is not talking about (Matthew 16:12)? What do they understand that He is talking about?
What ought we to be very careful to watch out for? Matthew 16:5–12 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we ought to be very careful to watch out for any teaching that emphasizes what we do over what Christ does.
The Pharisees and Sadducees seemed to disagree very much with one another, but Jesus lumps them in together here. They had begun to agree on one thing in Matthew 16:1: unbelief toward Christ. Their self-satisfaction in religion would later flower and fruit into the murder of the Lord of glory. Really, there are only two religions: salvation by Christ, or some sort of self-salvation (even if that self-salvation is mind-games to push down on the knowledge of God, so that one doesn’t “have” to deal with the condition of his soul).
The Pharisees and Sadducees each held, in reality, to a form of self-salvation: the Pharisees by spirituality and morality, and the Sadducees by ceremonial religion. Either one of these was deadly. It resulted in blindness to Christ (cf. Matthew 15:12–14; Romans 9:31–10:4), which is blindness unto God. Jesus had warned them to let the Pharisees alone and not try to gain acceptance with them or collaborate with them (cf. Matthew 15:12–14). And He believes that they need to hear this warning again.
We must watch out for all sorts of self-salvation theology and stay far away from it. He give the double command in Matthew 16:6: “take heed and beware.” “Observe and be careful about.” If we weren’t so prone to error, there would be no reason to be watching out for it. But we are prone to error, and therefore there is reason to be watching out for it.
The disciples miss His point, thinking that they are being rebuked for irresponsibility. He calls them “of little faith” (Matthew 16:8), because they have failed to see that if they have Jesus, they will have everything that they need (cf. Matthew 6:25–34; Romans 8:32). What great lessons they have recently had of His compassion, wisdom, and power (Matthew 16:9-10)! And now they are worrying about bread?
No, they face a danger much greater than starvation (which they don’t really face at this point). They face the danger of a doctrine (a teaching) in which the main thing is not Who Christ is (God), and what He does (saves), but rather who we are and what we do. They may give lip-service to grace (cf. Luke 18:11a), but the reality is that only one of these can be primary. And Christ’s disciples (then and now) must beware of any thinking or teaching in which what we do is primary.
Such thinking is not always obvious. It can be like that invisible leaven to which Christ has recently compared the church (cf. Luke 13:33). It appears to be pure, but the leaven of the error is in it, and it will corrupt the whole of one’s relating to God and Christ. So, take heed! Watch for any idea that downplays Christ’s divinity and our entire dependence upon Him being God, Who saves us. And, beware! Don’t just identify such teaching, but be actively careful and vigilant to stay away from it.
What are some sorts of self-salvation that are in the churches? How are you prone to the same things? How are you watching against the effects of such teaching upon yourself? What are you worried that you might lack? How is Christ your hope for what will come of you? Why are you sure that this hope is not misplaced?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for the warning against those who are in error about Christ. Grant unto us vigilance to stay away from them, but instead to stay near Christ. Give us the faith to know and remember that if we have Him, then we shall surely have all that we need. So, magnify unto us His love, wisdom, and power, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP26 “LORD, Vindicate Me” or TPH435 “Not What My Hands Have Done”
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