1. Matthew 16:1-12

2. Evil and Adulterous Generation Matthew 16:1-4 Sign seekers (malicious testers) Sign seekers (malicious testers) Evil motives (hypocrisy) exposed (15:7-9) Evil motives (hypocrisy) exposed (15:7-9) – Abundant signs available, 15:29-31 – Ability to discern, 16:2-3 – Wickedness rebuked, 16:4 Sign of Jonah, 16:4 (Matt 12:38-40) Sign of Jonah, 16:4 (Matt 12:38-40) 2

3. Why Are You Following Jesus? (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 6:26 To serve the flesh? John 6:26 To be seen and praised by others? Matt 6:1 To be seen and praised by others? Matt 6:1 To deflect criticism or hide sins? 1 Pet 2:16 To deflect criticism or hide sins? 1 Pet 2:16 To escape persecution? Gal 6:12 To escape persecution? Gal 6:12 To boast in your accomplishments? Gal 6:13 To boast in your accomplishments? Gal 6:13 To criticize His disciples? Matt 15:1-2 To criticize His disciples? Matt 15:1-2 3 Lord departs from evil hearts (Matt 23:38)

4. Doctrine of Pharisees and Sadducees… Doctrine of Pharisees and Sadducees… – Denied Jesus is the Christ, Matt 16:1, 13-16 – Bound human traditions while hypocritically excluding themselves, Luke 12:1; Matt 15:6-7; 23:4 – Sadducees denied immortality and resurrection, Acts 23:8 4 Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (16:5-12)

5. Discernment is essential, Matt 16:8-9, 11 Discernment is essential, Matt 16:8-9, 11 Know and hold the true doctrine in order to discern the leaven of false doctrine, 2 Tim 1:13; 3:14; 2 Ths 2:1-3 Know and hold the true doctrine in order to discern the leaven of false doctrine, 2 Tim 1:13; 3:14; 2 Ths 2:1-3 A will to obey + Hearing = Understanding (“he shall know”), John 7:16-17 (8:32) A will to obey + Hearing = Understanding (“he shall know”), John 7:16-17 (8:32) 5 Take Heed Matt 16:6-7; Phil 1:9-11

6. Be attentive to the Lord’s warning Be attentive to the Lord’s warning Although they forgot to take bread, they must never forget the leaven of error is at work Although they forgot to take bread, they must never forget the leaven of error is at work Constant vigilance is required, Jude 3-4 Constant vigilance is required, Jude 3-4 Threat of error is real, Eph 4:14; 2 Jno 7-9 Threat of error is real, Eph 4:14; 2 Jno 7-9 Apathy toward (the danger of) false doctrine is also a sin! Rev 2:14-16, 20 Apathy toward (the danger of) false doctrine is also a sin! Rev 2:14-16, 20 6 Beware Matthew 16:6-7

7. They are at first slight and unimportant in appearance, Matt 13:33; Rom 16:17-18 They are at first slight and unimportant in appearance, Matt 13:33; Rom 16:17-18 They are insinuated into the soul unawares and silently, and are difficult to detect, Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1 They are insinuated into the soul unawares and silently, and are difficult to detect, Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1 They act gradually until they finally corrupt and consume, 2 Tim 3:13 They act gradually until they finally corrupt and consume, 2 Tim 3:13 7 False Doctrines are Like Leaven (Barnes’ Notes)

8. They most certainly have an effect, 1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9 They most certainly have an effect, 1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9 They will permeate all the soul and bring all of one’s faculties under their control, 2 Pet 2:19 They will permeate all the soul and bring all of one’s faculties under their control, 2 Pet 2:19 8 False Doctrines are Like Leaven (Barnes’ Notes)

9. Beware: Be sober and watchful, 1 Peter 5:8-9 Beware: Be sober and watchful, 1 Peter 5:8-9 Test what you are taught, knowing God is true, 1 Jno 4:1 (Rom 3:3-4) Test what you are taught, knowing God is true, 1 Jno 4:1 (Rom 3:3-4) Hold fast the pattern of sound words 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words 2 Timothy 1:13 9 What We Must Do