Testing What Infects You <Mt 16:1-12>

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. (Despite the many miracles and teaching Jesus had performed) A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Beware of "evil" yeast
- Yeast context in Jews = something that is evil
- Anti-Jesus/God attitude; hardness of heart towards God
- Yeast of Pharisees [hyper-conservative]
  - "To separate"
  - Legalistic - hold onto the commands of Moses and traditions tightly
  - Mt 15:2-3
  - Underlying assumption of a legalistic person: emphasise on greatness of human (seems to want to glorify GOd? But actually they want to glorify themselves)
  - Condemn others, and by doing so, lift themselves up [self-rightoues] -> fall into Hypocrisy
  - Don't look up to great man, look up to the great shepherd Jesus CHrist. ONly Jesus saves.
- Yeast of Sadducees [hyper-liberal]
  - Denied many truths
  - They only accepted Torah, but not the prophetic books of bible
  - Made peace with Roman leaders to be covered by them
  - Buy in whatever that "works"
  - "Practical"

These are like false teachings >> will harm / poison us

The moment you end up with the wrong thing, you'll end up in the wrong path
<Mt 24:24> “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” ‭Matthew‬ ‭24:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
Need to test the spirit - to see if it is with God or anti-CHrist?
- “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬
ASK yourselves 5 questions to see if you are accepting right teaching or others to the right teaching