📖 Matthew 16:1–12 RSV

The Demand for a Sign

16 And the Pharisees and Sad′ducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

⁵ When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. ⁶ Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad′ducees.” ⁷ And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” ⁸ But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? ¹¹ How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad′ducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sad′ducees.

📖 Mark 8:11–26 NET

The Demand for a Sign

¹¹ Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

¹⁴ Now they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ¹⁵ And Jesus ordered them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!” ¹⁶ So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread. ¹⁷ When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? ¹⁸ Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Seven.” ²¹ Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

A Two-stage Healing

²² Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked him to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Then he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyes and asked, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴ Regaining his sight he said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking.” ²⁵ Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. And he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”