Matthew 15:29-39; Matthew 16:1-12

Matthew 15:29-39

29 Jesus moved on from there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain and sat there.

30 A large crowd came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, disabled, those unable to talk, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he cured them.

31 The crowd was amazed to see mute people talking, the disabled cured, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. So they praised the God of Israel.

32 Jesus called his disciples and said, "I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they may become exhausted on their way home."

33 His disciples asked him, "Where could we get enough bread to feed such a crowd in this place where no one lives?"

34 Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They answered, "Seven, and a few small fish."

35 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.

36 He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, and they gave the bread and fish to the people.

37 All of them ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets.

38 Four thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.)

39 After he sent the people on their way, Jesus stepped into the boat and came to the territory of Magadan.

Matthew 16:1-12

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. So they asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.

2 He responded to them, "In the evening you say that the weather will be fine because the sky is red.

3 And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

4 "Evil and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will be given is that of Jonah." Then he left them standing there and went away.

5 The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along when they went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

6 Jesus said to them, "Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

7 The disciples had been discussing among themselves that they had not taken any bread along.

8 Jesus knew about their conversation and asked, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you don't have any bread? You have so little faith!

9 Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you filled?

10 Don't you remember the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you filled?

11 Why don't you understand that I wasn't talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

12 Then they understood that he didn't say to watch out for the yeast in bread, but to watch out for the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.