Bottom line up front: Discern the difference between an empty suit and a man of God.

Text: Matthew 16:1-12 (ESV) reads:

16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He answered them, “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. 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.

Reflections: There are several things going on here. First, notice the motivation of those who hated Christ and what he stands for. Both the Pharisees and Sadducees came “to test” Christ. They didn’t want the truth; they wanted to embarrass him and to make themselves appear the bigger people. The truth, of course, was that they were morally reprehensible and had no interest in following the truth but only in safeguarding their power.

Second, Christ warns us again and again that false teachers will always have a following because there’s no bottom to fallen man’s desire for lies that comfort and protect his sin. That is what Jesus meant when he referenced Jonah in v. 4. That sign of Jonah was that judgment was imminent, but God sent Jonah, the truth-telling prophet, to call out against Nineveh to repent and believe God. The people did, and God relented. But it was not some sentimental thing; on the contrary, it was one of the greatest revivals in the history of redemption.

Encouragement: A non-negotiable for the Christian is discernment. It is taught on nearly every page of Scripture. Jesus tells us again and again that there are “blind guides,” leading the undiscerning into a pit. We are to discern the difference between an empty suit and a man of God. Why? Because souls are at stake. So much glitters that is not in fact gold. Discern.