Matthew 16:1-12

New English Translation

The Demand for a Sign

16 Now when the Pharisees^[a] and Sadducees^[b] came to test Jesus,^[c] they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.^{[d] 2} He^[e] said, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’^[f] You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky,^[g] but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then^[h] he left them and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

⁵ When the disciples went to the other side, they forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Watch out,” Jesus said to them, “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees^[i] and Sadducees.”^{[j] 7} So^[k] they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “It is because we brought no bread.” ⁸ When Jesus learned of this,^[l] he said, “You who have such little faith! Why are you arguing^[m] among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000, and how many baskets you took up? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the 4,000 and how many baskets you took up? ¹¹ How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” ¹² Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.