The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

The Pharisees and the Sadducees: Mt 16,1-12

This episode is found in Mark, Mk 8,8,11-21. We will discover that Matthew's has edited the passage so as to give a notably different message to Mark. For a start, note how Matthew in 16,6 has changed Mk 8,15.

We can say that the Pharisees and Sadducees make an unlikely coming together of liberals and conservatives. See Acts 23,6-10 for their differences. Look also at 15,3 and 22,23. This pairing tells us about Matthew's aim with this passage, as we will see.

Count the number of references to the Pharisees and Sadducees that occur in these verses. Then look back at 3,7. Look also at 19,3 for a similar expression.

Then note how the passage comes in two parts: the setting of the scene followed by a change of audience and Jesus' teaching.

A sign from heaven: 16,1-4

We have already seen the request by the scribes and Pharisees for a sign from heaven in 12,38. We know Matthew likes repeating episodes, but consider if there might be a specific reason here. Look at the parallel, Mark 8,12.

Jesus first reply in verses 2b and 3 is not found in all manuscripts so it may not be original. What does it tell us about the enquirers?

In verse 4 Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah (see Mk 8,12) but without saying what the sign might be, but look at the earlier scene (12,38-42). "An evil and adulterous" generation is also mentioned in there (12,39).

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees: 16,5-12

Having set the scene, there is now a teaching by Jesus to the disciples concerning bread and leaven. To see how Matthew has given a different aim to a rather complicated story in Mark, compare 16,12 with Mk 8,21. In verse 12 too, Matthew tells us the meaning of the leaven as Mark does not.

Hence the trigger for Jesus' teaching is given in verse 5, and leads to the warning of Jesus which follows in verse 6. The response of the disciples misses the point in verse 7.

Jesus of course is looking deeper. Notice how he describes the disciples, as he has done before (14,31, for example). Jesus may be thinking of Dt 8,3, which he has already quoted to the devil (4,4).

What then is the deeper meaning or symbolism of the two feedings as recalled by Jesus in verses 9 and 10? See Amos 8,11 or Sirach 24,21. We can notice that Jesus is gentler with the disciples in Matthew than in Mark (Mk 8,17-21). The key warning is then at the end of verse 11, leading to the conclusion in verse 12.

We can now have a response.

Jesus' warning about the Pharisees and Sadducees is now the immediate background as we come to read the next scene, Jesus and the disciples at Casesarea Philippi, Mt 16,13-28.