Matthew 16:5
No bread
The disciples reach the other side of the lake and find they have forgotten to bring bread.
Easy to miss
This comes straight after the Pharisees demanded a sign from heaven (Matthew 16:1–4).
In one minute: If you only read this much
What happens
The disciples forget to bring bread across the lake. Jesus warns them about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They think he is complaining about the bread. He reminds them of the two feedings, and they understand he means the Pharisees’ teaching.
Why this Sunday
The readings today are about wisdom and understanding, and what we let shape our thinking.
Take with you
A little wrong teaching, like a little yeast, spreads through everything.
Readings for the Second Sunday after Holy Cross: Nine passages across four services
ഈ ഞായറാഴ്ചയുടെ വായനകൾ
Evening prayer സന്ധ്യാപ്രാർത്ഥന1 readings
- GospelസുവിശേഷംMatthew 14:34–36; 15:1–11മത്തായി 14:34–36; 15:1–11
The sick are healed by touching his cloak; what comes out of the mouth defiles.
Morning prayer പ്രഭാതപ്രാർത്ഥന1 readings
- GospelസുവിശേഷംMatthew 15:12–20മത്തായി 15:12–20
Every plant my Father did not plant will be uprooted; evil comes from the heart.
Before Qurbana കുർബാനയ്ക്കു മുമ്പ്4 readings
- Old TestamentപഴയനിയമംGenesis 42:9–17ഉല്പത്തി 42:9–17
Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies and puts them in prison.
- Old Testamentപഴയനിയമം1 Kings 3:5–91 രാജാക്കന്മാർ 3:5–9
Solomon asks God for an understanding heart to govern his people.
- Old TestamentപഴയനിയമംWisdom 6:1–9[ML BOOK NAME: Wisdom] 6:1–9
Listen, you kings: your power was given by the Lord.
- Old TestamentപഴയനിയമംIsaiah 48:12–16യെശയ്യാവ് 48:12–16
I am the first and the last; my hand laid the foundation of the earth.
Holy Qurbana വിശുദ്ധ കുർബാന3 readings
- Acts of the Apostlesഅപ്പൊസ്തലപ്രവൃത്തികൾActs 5:17–32അപ്പൊസ്തലപ്രവൃത്തികൾ 5:17–32
An angel frees the apostles from prison: we must obey God rather than people.
- Pauline Epistleപൗലോസിന്റെ ലേഖനം1 Corinthians 2:14–3:91 കൊരിന്ത്യർ 2:14–3:9
I fed you with milk, not solid food; we are God’s fellow workers.
- Gospel of the dayസുവിശേഷംMatthew 16:5–12മത്തായി 16:5–12
Beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This is the Gospel of the day.
Open in five scenes
The thread through all nine
Joseph tests his brothers in Egypt, and Solomon asks God for an understanding heart. Wisdom says power is given by God. The apostles are freed from prison and keep teaching, and Paul says the Corinthians are still ready only for milk.
Source
References follow the official lectionary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Your parish may read them in a different order.
Matthew 16:5–12 explained: Matthew 16:5–12 in five scenes
Pick a scene to see what happens in it and what is easy to miss.
No breadMatthew 16:5Beware the yeastMatthew 16:6–7Do you not remember?Matthew 16:8–10Not about breadMatthew 16:11Then they understoodMatthew 16:12
Matthew 16:6–7
Beware the yeast
Jesus says: watch out, beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They say among themselves: it is because we brought no bread.
Easy to miss
The disciples are worried about lunch while Jesus is worried about their minds.
Matthew 16:8–10
Do you not remember?
You of little faith, why talk about having no bread? Do you not remember the five loaves for five thousand, or the seven for four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
Easy to miss
Jesus asks them to remember. Forgetting what God has done is how worry starts.
Matthew 16:11
Not about bread
How can you not understand that I was not talking about bread? Beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Easy to miss
Jesus repeats the warning rather than dropping it. He thinks it matters.
Matthew 16:12
Then they understood
Then they understand that he meant the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, not the yeast in bread.
Easy to miss
Pharisees and Sadducees disagreed about much. Jesus groups them together as both refusing to see God at work in him.
The verse to keep
“അങ്ങനെ അപ്പത്തിന്റെ പുളിച്ച മാവല്ല, പരീശന്മാരുടെയും സദൂക്യരുടെയും ഉപദേശമത്രേ സൂക്ഷിച്ചുകൊൾവാൻ അവൻ പറഞ്ഞു എന്നു അവർ ഗ്രഹിച്ചു.”“Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Who is in the story, and what their names mean
The Phariseesപരീശന്മാർ
A movement devoted to strict keeping of the law and its traditions.
Probably “the separated ones”
The Sadduceesസദൂക്യർ
A priestly party that denied the resurrection.
“Probably from Zadok, the priest”
Three phrases worth knowing
- Yeast
- A little yeast works through a whole lump of dough. Usually a picture of corruption spreading (1 Corinthians 5:6).
- Little faith
- Matthew’s gentle rebuke for disciples who trust Jesus, but not enough to stop worrying.
- Teaching
- What the Pharisees and Sadducees taught, which kept people from recognising Jesus.
Reflection: Watch what you take in
ഉള്ളിലേക്കെടുക്കുന്നതു സൂക്ഷിക്കുക
The disciples’ mistake is funny and familiar. Jesus says something serious, and all they can think about is that they forgot the bread. Their stomachs are louder than his words. He has to remind them of two miracles of bread they have already forgotten.
His warning is about yeast. A small amount, worked into dough, changes the whole loaf. Ideas are like that. A cynical habit of mind, a bitter way of talking about others, a teaching that makes God small: a little of it gets into everything.
We take in a great deal every day through screens, conversations and what we read. This Gospel asks us to be careful what yeast we let into our minds and homes. And when worry crowds out faith, to do what Jesus told the disciples: remember what God has already done.