In Matthew 16:5-12 we read the story of the disciples' misinterpretation of a remark Jesus made. They had recently been part of two separate miracles when Jesus fed thousands of people with only a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. They had actually distributed this food among the people, so they had no excuse to miss what had happened. They saw. And, I suppose, they also ate of that same food. They certainly helped to pick up the many baskets of food left over after everyone had eaten their fill. They must have seen that there was a great deal more food after the meal than before. It should have made a great impression on them at the time.
Still they had no conception, only a few hours later, of what Jesus meant when He warned them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were all upset thinking it was because they forgot to take bread with them when they crossed to the other side of the sea. Now, does that seem reasonable? Of course you and I would have never thought in those terms! We would still be talking about the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish, wouldn't we? We would understand perfectly what Jesus meant. Or would we?
I doubt that today we are much different than the disciples were 2000 years ago. We would probably have jumped to the same wrong conclusion, or one similar. The only advantage we have today over the disciples is that we have the written record of the past. We have history to look to. But many of us are still just as dense as those twelve men seemed to be so long ago. Consider the last major thing the Lord did in your life--last week, last month, last year. How many times since then have you been in some degree of crisis and you wondered how in the world it would be solved? Did you immediately think about your last answer to prayer and determine that because the Lord came to the rescue then that He would certainly come through now? Or did you fidget and worry, get all upset and try to solve the problem yourself? I know many times I have done that very thing.
How did Jesus respond to their supposition? He called them men of little faith. He did not say they had no faith. They had some, yes, but only a little. Then He reminded them of the miracles in which they had so recently participated. Do you think He might have been just a little frustrated? I know I would be. Can you hear Him now as He asked them, "Don't you understand what just happened? Don't you see, this isn't about bread, about food? It's all about the religious leaders and their attitudes, actions and motives. It's all about taking care that You don't fall into the same trap."
Do you see the lesson in these verses? Verse 8 records Jesus words to the disciples. He asked why they were consulting one another about one thing when He was teaching something altogether different. Their little faith led to irrelevant discussion. How often do we get to analyzing things that have no bearing on anything of importance? We talk, we debate, we discuss, we argue over minor points of religion or doctrine or interpretation that mean nothing in the larger scheme of life, and we overlook the really important issues.
I don't know about you, but I want to learn from this account in the scripture. Let us strive to be the people spoken of in Daniel 11:32-- "...but the people who know their God will display strength and take action." (NASB) Yes, little faith leads to useless discussion. Great faith leads to action. Let's not waste any more time. Let's become people of great faith, people do exploits in the name of Jesus.
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