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Matthew 16:1-12 The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

1 The Demand for a Sign
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’

3 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.

4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

5 The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.

6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?

9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

11 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.”

12 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.

Cross References for Matthew 16:1-12

Luke 23:12 - That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. Click to read the verse Luke 23:12 Click to read the verse Luke 23:12

John 4:48 - “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” Click to read the verse John 4:48 Click to read the verse John 4:48

Matthew 16:6 - “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadd... Click to read the verse Matthew 16:6 Click to read the verse Matthew 16:6

Matthew 23:2 - “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Click to read the verse Matthew 23:2 Click to read the verse Matthew 23:2

Matthew 16:11-12 - How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard ... Click to read the verse Matthew 16:11-12 Click to read the verse Matthew 16:11-12

Matthew 22:15 - Paying Taxes to Caesar Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. Click to read the verse Matthew 22:15 Click to read the verse Matthew 22:15

John 8:6 - They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus b... Click to read the verse John 8:6 Click to read the verse John 8:6

Isaiah 38:8 - I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway o... Click to read the verse Isaiah 38:8 Click to read the verse Isaiah 38:8

Judges 6:36 - Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— Click to read the verse Judges 6:36 Click to read the verse Judges 6:36

1 Corinthians 1:22 - Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 1:22 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 1:22

Luke 11:29-30 - The Sign of Jonah As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks fo... Click to read the verse Luke 11:29-30 Click to read the verse Luke 11:29-30

Acts 4:1 - Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sad... Click to read the verse Acts 4:1 Click to read the verse Acts 4:1

Acts 5:17 - The Apostles Persecuted Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the pa... Click to read the verse Acts 5:17 Click to read the verse Acts 5:17

Revelation 13:13 - And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to eart... Click to read the verse Revelation 13:13 Click to read the verse Revelation 13:13

Luke 11:53-54 - When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely a... Click to read the verse Luke 11:53-54 Click to read the verse Luke 11:53-54

Matthew 22:34-35 - The Greatest Commandment Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got toget... Click to read the verse Matthew 22:34-35 Click to read the verse Matthew 22:34-35

Matthew 22:23 - Marriage at the Resurrection That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, cam... Click to read the verse Matthew 22:23 Click to read the verse Matthew 22:23

Matthew 9:11 - When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax coll... Click to read the verse Matthew 9:11 Click to read the verse Matthew 9:11

Matthew 12:14 - But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Click to read the verse Matthew 12:14 Click to read the verse Matthew 12:14

Luke 10:25 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ... Click to read the verse Luke 10:25 Click to read the verse Luke 10:25

Mark 12:18 - Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. Click to read the verse Mark 12:18 Click to read the verse Mark 12:18

Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers ... Click to read the verse Matthew 5:20 Click to read the verse Matthew 5:20

Matthew 19:3 - Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife... Click to read the verse Matthew 19:3 Click to read the verse Matthew 19:3

Matthew 22:18 - But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Click to read the verse Matthew 22:18 Click to read the verse Matthew 22:18

Mark 12:15 - Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?... Click to read the verse Mark 12:15 Click to read the verse Mark 12:15

Luke 11:16 - Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Click to read the verse Luke 11:16 Click to read the verse Luke 11:16

Matthew 15:1 - Clean and Unclean Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and ... Click to read the verse Matthew 15:1 Click to read the verse Matthew 15:1

Matthew 3:7-8 - But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said t... Click to read the verse Matthew 3:7-8 Click to read the verse Matthew 3:7-8

Mark 10:2 - Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Click to read the verse Mark 10:2 Click to read the verse Mark 10:2

Mark 8:11-21 - The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from hea... Click to read the verse Mark 8:11-21 Click to read the verse Mark 8:11-21

Acts 23:6-8 - Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the... Click to read the verse Acts 23:6-8 Click to read the verse Acts 23:6-8

Matthew 12:38-39 - The Sign of Jonah Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we ... Click to read the verse Matthew 12:38-39 Click to read the verse Matthew 12:38-39

John 6:30-31 - So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?... Click to read the verse John 6:30-31 Click to read the verse John 6:30-31

Luke 20:27 - The Resurrection and Marriage Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to ... Click to read the verse Luke 20:27 Click to read the verse Luke 20:27

Luke 12:54-56 - Interpreting the Times He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediat... Click to read the verse Luke 12:54-56 Click to read the verse Luke 12:54-56

Luke 20:23 - He saw through their duplicity and said to them, Click to read the verse Luke 20:23 Click to read the verse Luke 20:23

Matthew 27:62 - The Guard at the Tomb The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Ph... Click to read the verse Matthew 27:62 Click to read the verse Matthew 27:62