The disciples missed the message. All of their attention was centered on the temporal need for food, even though Jesus consistently taught them differently.

“Why all these worried whispers and missed messages about forgetting the bread?”

These are some of Jesus’ words in the Message version of the sixteenth chapter of Matthew. The disciples misinterpreted what Jesus meant when He advised them to be cautious concerning the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They whispered to each other, worried He was scolding them for forgetting to bring bread along with them.

Jesus immediately explained to them what He was referring to but initially, they missed a few things:

They Missed the Message

Jesus instructed them to be ready for the wrong teachings they were sure to encounter. He said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Just as adding even a little bit of yeast makes a substantial impact in the bread-making process, the Pharisees and Sadducees’ teachings could have a powerful and negative effect on listeners’ hearts. The disciples missed the metaphor and jumped to the conclusion that He was reprimanding them for forgetting to buy bread. All of their attention was centered on the temporal need for food, even though Jesus consistently taught that true fulfillment comes from the Living Bread.