Matthew 16:8-12

Matthew 16:8-12

[8] Which when  Jesus  perceived,  he said  O ye of little faith,  why  reason ye  among  yourselves,  because  no  bread?  [9] not yet  understand,  neither  remember  the five  loaves  of the five thousand,  and  how many  baskets  ye took up?  [10] Neither  the seven  loaves  of the four thousand,  and  how many  baskets  ye took up?  [11] How  is it that  not  understand  that I spake  it not  concerning  bread,  that ye should beware  of  the leaven  of the Pharisees  and  of the Sadducees?  [12] Then  understood they  how that  he bade  them not  beware  of  the leaven  of bread,  but  of  the doctrine  of the Pharisees  and  of the Sadducees. 

What does Matthew 16:8-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus" rebuke probably arose from the disciples" failure to believe that He could provide bread for them in spite of their having witnessed two feeding miracles. This was a serious mistake for them (cf. Matthew 6:30).
"The miracles Jesus performs, unlike the signs the Pharisees demand, do not compel faith; but those with faith will perceive their significance." [1]
The disciples did not perceive their significance, namely, that Jesus was the Messiah who could and would provide for His people. In this their attitude was not much different from that of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Jesus did not explain His metaphor to the disciples, but, as a good teacher, He repeated it forcing them to think more deeply about its meaning. Matthew provided the interpretation for his readers ( Matthew 16:12). Though the Pharisees and Sadducees differed on several points of theology, they held certain beliefs in common. Specifically, the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus warned His disciples about was the skepticism toward divine revelation that resulted in failure to accept Messiah. These critics tried to fit the King and His kingdom into their preconceptions and preferences rather than accepting Him as the Old Testament presented Him.
This section of the Gospel ( Matthew 13:54 to Matthew 16:12) emphasizes the continuing and mounting opposition to the King. Matthew recorded Jesus withdrawing from this opposition twice ( Matthew 14:13; Matthew 15:21). In both instances He proceeded to train His disciples. The first time He ministered to Jews, and the second time He ministered to Gentiles. This was the pattern of Jesus" ministry that Matthew hinted at in the first verse of this Gospel. Opposition arose from the Jewish people ( Matthew 13:54-58), from the Romans ( Matthew 14:1-12), and most strongly from the religious leaders within Judaism ( Matthew 15:1-9; Matthew 16:1-4). The rejection of this last group finally became so firm that Jesus abandoned them ( Matthew 16:4). From now on He concentrated on preparing His disciples for what lay ahead of them because of Israel"s rejection of Her King.