When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” – Matthew 26:5-7
There’s something almost winsome about this moment in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus has just performed incredible miracles, including feeding thousands of people, and now He gives His disciples a spiritual warning: “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
And what do they do?
They start whispering among themselves, worried that they forgot to bring bread.
We can almost picture it. One of them nudges another and says, “This is because we didn’t pack lunch, isn’t it?” Meanwhile, they’re standing next to the One who just fed four thousand people with a few loaves. It’s hard for me to read this and not chuckle a bit!
But before we laugh too hard, we’d do well to recognize a bit of ourselves in them.
The disciples show us how easy it is to miss spiritual truth when our minds are stuck on earthly concerns. Jesus was warning them about the influence and teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but they were still thinking about their next meal. They’d seen His power, heard His teaching, and walked with Him daily, yet they still struggled to understand. Spiritual understanding doesn’t always come quickly, even for those closest to Him.
And yet, what stands out just as much is Jesus’ patience.
He doesn’t walk away from them in frustration and say, “When are you guys ever gonna get this??” Instead, He asks questions. He reminds them of what they’ve already seen. He gently leads them from confusion to clarity. His correction is there, but so is His compassion. He’s committed to teaching them, even when they’re slow to understand.
That is such good news for us! Because we too can be slow. We can hear truth and still misunderstand it. We can see God’s provision and still worry about “bread” the very next day. But this passage reminds us that Jesus isn’t quick to give up on His people. He patiently teaches, corrects, and guides us as we grow.
And at the same time, Jesus’ warning about “yeast” isn’t something we should ignore. Yeast works quietly, spreading through the whole batch of dough. In the same way, wrong teaching or the slightest unbelief can quietly shape our thinking if we’re not careful. That’s why understanding matters. Yes, we should do our best to get the teaching and lessons right. But equally so, we should guard our hearts from the influences that pull us away from the truth of Scripture.
So today, take heart and take heed.
Take heart, because when you miss the point, Jesus doesn’t dismiss you. He’s patient, and He’ll keep teaching you. Take heed, because what you believe shapes how you live. So pay attention to what is shaping your thinking.
“Only through perseverance did the snail reach the ark.”
~ Charles Spurgeon
Former Blackout Artist 