Read & explore together
Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees
Jesus is asked for a sign, then warns his disciples about yeast. In both scenes, the main issue is understanding: some test him, and others hear his words yet mistake what he means.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
These verses place two linked moments together. First, Pharisees, and in Matthew also Sadducees, ask Jesus for a sign from heaven to test him. Then, after crossing over with little bread, the disciples misunderstand his warning about yeast until Matthew explains that he meant teaching.
Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21Main takeaway
This passage shows that Jesus’ words require spiritual understanding, not merely attention to outward signs or immediate practical worries.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A demand for a signReligious leaders ask Jesus for a sign from heaven, and both accounts say this is a test. Matthew records Jesus pointing to everyday weather reading: they can judge the sky’s appearance, yet cannot discern “the signs of the times”.
Explanation
Religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign from heaven, and both accounts say this is a test. Matthew records Jesus pointing to everyday weather reading: they can judge the sky’s appearance, yet cannot discern “the signs of the times”. Mark adds the depth of Jesus’ response by noting that he sighed deeply.
02Jesus refuses and leavesJesus does not meet their demand in the way they want. Matthew says no sign will be given except “the sign of the prophet Jonah”.
Explanation
Jesus does not meet their demand in the way they want. Matthew says no sign will be given except “the sign of the prophet Jonah”. Mark simply states that no sign will be given to this generation. In both accounts, Jesus ends the exchange by leaving and going away from them.
03The warning about yeast is misunderstoodOn the other side, the disciples have forgotten bread, and Mark notes that they have only one loaf in the boat.
Explanation
On the other side, the disciples have forgotten bread, and Mark notes that they have only one loaf in the boat. Jesus warns them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and in Mark also of Herod. They take his words literally and think he means their missing bread.
04Jesus points them back to what they have seenJesus challenges their reasoning and asks why they still do not perceive. He reminds them of the five loaves for the five thousand and the seven loaves for the four thousand, including the baskets collected.
Explanation
Jesus challenges their reasoning and asks why they still do not perceive. He reminds them of the five loaves for the five thousand and the seven loaves for the four thousand, including the baskets collected. Mark sharpens this with questions about seeing, hearing and remembering, ending, “Don’t you understand yet?”
05Matthew gives the meaning plainlyMatthew then states the point clearly. Jesus was not speaking about bread yeast at all, but about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Explanation
Matthew then states the point clearly. Jesus was not speaking about bread yeast at all, but about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Mark’s account, in these verses, closes with the pressure of Jesus’ question, leaving the reader to feel the seriousness of failing to understand his warning.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew 16:1–12 | A demand for a sign Jesus refuses and leaves The warning about yeast is misunderstood Jesus points them back to what they have seen Matthew gives the meaning plainly |
| Mark | Mark 8:11–21 | A demand for a sign Jesus refuses and leaves The warning about yeast is misunderstood Jesus points them back to what they have seen Matthew gives the meaning plainly |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Jesus say they can recognise, and what can they not recognise?
He says they can discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern “the signs of the times”.
02Why does Jesus bring up the five loaves and the seven loaves?
He points the disciples back to what they have already seen, so they should not think he is merely talking about the lack of bread.
03According to Matthew, what did the warning about yeast mean?
Matthew says the disciples understood that Jesus meant the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, not bread yeast.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 16:1–12
1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!
4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them and departed.
5The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.
6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?
9Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,
10or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Mark 8:11–21
11The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven and testing him.
12He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
14They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
15He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet or understand? Is your heart still hardened?
18Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?
19When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.”
20“When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
21He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”