Seriously???

I was reading last week in Matthew 16 and came across this back-and-forth between Jesus and His disciples in verses 5-12. If you think there’s not funny stuff in the Bible, read on!

5 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.

Things to think about:

• You gotta love the disciples! You can just picture Jesus shaking His head going, “Oh my gosh! Seriously??? You guys really think I’m literally talking about yeast and bread?” Heavy sigh…
• Somehow they hadn’t connected the dots that since Jesus had TWICE miraculously fed thousands of people, He wasn't too concerned or constrained by their lack of provisions.  
• It is funny to read about it now but we’re not much more sophisticated or astute than the twelve.  In fact, we do the same things, don’t we?
• In what ways do you feel you do not have what God can use to accomplish His purposes?
• Maybe you’re short on talent, money, proper training, or time.  Maybe you haven’t “earned your stripes” by going to Africa or South America on a mission trip, served as a deacon, know the words and melodies of obscure hymns, memorized  the 23rd Psalm, or some other “sign" of a mature believer. We can come up with lots of reasons why our perceived insufficiencies opt us out of making a difference. 
• If God can meet the needs of thousands with a few paltry loaves and fish, then He can probably work with whatever inadequacies you and I bring.
• But He did take all that was offered to Him in order to feed the people. God doesn’t want us to give some of what we have, He wants it all.  But remember - All is always enough!
• Jesus gave thanks and blessed it. Put into His hands, our offering becomes sufficient.  In fact, He blesses it in a way that causes overflowing (they had to pick up basketfuls after everyone had their fill).
• These same forgetful and not overly bright disciples are the origin of the path by which you and I have come to faith. If these guys could be used to change the world (which they did), can you think of a good reason God couldn’t use you to help build His Kingdom too?
• Now that we’re talking about it, right now ask God to bring into your thoughts how has He previously taken little and made it sufficient
• my mind tends to go to financial things but the topic is much bigger than that. For some, God took a broken family and made it enough. For others it could be the blessing of a well timed phone call, a smile when you were down, 
• So when we get a little thickheaded worrying about how something is going to work out, it is good to have memories of how Jesus has delivered before
• The yeast He was speaking about was the erroneous and legalistic teachings of these two sects of Judaism.  Both taught the people in error and Jesus was making the point that it doesn’t take much error to spoil all of the teaching.
• Jesus cares much more about your eternal soul than your stomach.  He has promised us that God knows our material needs and will meet them.
• Lack of food is unlikely to destroy any of us.  Lack of knowledge can be fatal. Be careful who you listen to and ALWAYS test it against God’s infallible word.