Thursday, November 16, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading
Matthew 16:1–12

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 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. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They said to one another, “It is because we have brought no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (NRSV)

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Reflection

Jesus is not intimidated by the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ demand for a sign. His reference to Jonah, directed to an abstract “evil and adulterous generation,” calls out their hypocrisy and reminds them that God sees them. Jonah learns that he can’t hide from God and repents from inside the fish. God saves him. Jesus wants this same spiritual awakening for the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The next encounter is between Jesus and his preoccupied disciples. Only after he repeats his warning against the “yeast of the Pharisees” do they understand he’s telling them not to follow their example.

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, a panelist on Fourth Church’s recent Michigan Avenue Forum “Understanding Antisemitism,” brought to our attention that parts of the Gospel texts perpetuate certain antisemitic ideologies.

Case in point, the characterization of Pharisees as being hypocrites.

Rabbi Ruttenberg explained that the Pharisees were the ancestors of Rabbinic Judaism, out of which came the Talmud, the Jewish religious laws and theology. In historical Jewish context, the word Pharisee is interchangeable with the word Jew.

She posits that over the centuries many biblical accountings of Jesus’ interactions with Jews, in this case, the Pharisees and Sadducees, either lacked sufficient in-depth analysis as the context required or were intentional mischaracterizations of the Jews to deflect political discord away from those in power.

As Presbyterian Christians, we are called to interpret and apply scripture as it relates to the modern world, and to discern our role in bringing about God’s kingdom on earth. We are also called to examine where antisemitism and other cultural biases are embedded within our own doctrines and to make changes, accordingly.

May the Holy Spirit guide us!

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Prayer
Lord, you see me as I am. Forgive my hypocrisy. Sustain my faith and guide my new path. Amen.



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Written by Holly O’Mara, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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