Single lesson
Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees
Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees, using two details from the reading. This passage shows that Jesus’ words require spiritual understanding, not merely attention to outward signs or immediate practical worries.
Welcome: Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees
5 minIntroduce “Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees” and locate Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21. This passage shows that Jesus’ words require spiritual understanding, not merely attention to outward signs or immediate practical worries. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Matthew 16:1, Matthew 16:12, Mark 8:21
Read and explain the passage
12 minReligious 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.
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.
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 selected verses together, pausing at “Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Matthew 16:1, Matthew 16:2, Matthew 16:3, Mark 8:11, Mark 8:12, Matthew 16:5, Matthew 16:6, Matthew 16:7, Mark 8:14, Mark 8:15, Mark 8:16, Matthew 16:11, Matthew 16:12, Mark 8:21
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does Jesus say they can recognise, and what can they not recognise?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage shows that Jesus’ words require spiritual understanding, not merely attention to outward signs or immediate practical worries. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Matthew 16:2, Matthew 16:3, Matthew 16:9, Matthew 16:10, Mark 8:19, Mark 8:20, Matthew 16:11, Matthew 16:12
Make and respond: Read and respond sheet
12 minWork on “Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Matthew 16:1, Matthew 16:12, Mark 8:21
Closing: return to Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees
3 minRevisit Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Matthew 16:1, Matthew 16:12, Mark 8:21
Questions to explore
What 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”.
Matthew 16:2, Matthew 16:3
Why 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.
Matthew 16:9, Matthew 16:10, Mark 8:19, Mark 8:20
According 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.
Matthew 16:11, Matthew 16:12
Make, think or respond
Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees: Read and respond sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
- Read Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21. Use “Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Signs and the Yeast of the Pharisees” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Matthew 16:1–12; Mark 8:11–21. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
3 In 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!
4 An 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.
5 The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.
6 Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
8 Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?
9 Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,
10 or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11 How 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.”
12 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.
Mark 8
11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven and testing him.
12 He 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.”
13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
15 He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17 Jesus, 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?
18 Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?
19 When 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.”
21 He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.