Matthew 16:5-12 5When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring bread. 6So Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7And they began discussing among themselves saying, “We brought no bread.” 8But knowing this, Jesus said, “Why are you discussing among yourselves, O you of little faith, that you have no bread? 9Do you not understand nor remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The disciples were slow to learn and slow to grow their faith. Faith and memory should grow with each other. The word that stands out in this passage is forgotten (epelathonto). In verse 5, the word has the sense of overlooking or neglecting to consider in preparation. This story continues to show the slowness of the disciples seen in chapter 15. Bread stands behind many of these stories. Bread was the essential sustenance in the daily life of most people of that time. Forgetting to bring some on a trip would result in relying on the kindness and hospitality of others. The dependence of the disciples on Jesus is a subtle theme in these chapters of Matthew.
Jesus uses this as another teaching opportunity and and warns the disciples about the bad influence of the Pharisees and Sadducees who represented that “evil and adulterous generation” (verse 4). Just like leaven slowly works through a batch of dough, so also could the wrong attitudes of these Jewish leaders. Leaders have influence. If this influence is evil, it will affect the whole group. That is why it is so crucial to choose godly leaders at all levels. Character and beliefs are the most important factors in leadership, not how convincing people sound or the promises they make.
Jesus perceives the deeper problem of the disciples’ lack of faith. Jesus’ rhetorical questions all point out their lack of trust in him. The answer to the forgotten in verse 5 is the key word remember (mnēmoneuete). Memory is supported by understanding (noeite, verse 9). If the disciples would think clearly and grow their faith, they would realize what Jesus was saying. Their problem is that they had forgotten not only bread for this trip but, more importantly, that Jesus has power to make bread. The devil’s temptation to turn rocks into bread in 3:3 was real because Jesus had power to do something like this.
Memory is grown through faith which is supported by understanding. We must be aware of the bad influences of those around us, especially of leaders and people of positions of authority and power. We must always go back to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible to keep our memory alive and growing. The disciples were blinded by the powerful people from Jerusalem (see 15:12). They were more worried about hurting the feelings of the Pharisees and Sadducees than about trusting in Jesus.
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