Matthew 16:5-12 Remember the baskets of food!
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 25, 2019 Matthew 16:5-12
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
(Understanding the Text) I easily understand what Jesus meant, but I also know of lots of times when my mind has been in one track, and I did not understand something that was said because the speaker was thinking in another track. The disciples were focused on the fact that they had cast off without remembering to bring some food, specifically bread. Then Jesus starts talking about the main ingredient associated with bread. They are focused on what they are going to eat, so their minds assume that bread is what Jesus is talking about even if they would have easily caught his meaning if they had used their ears.
Jesus was trying to tell the disciples that the Pharisees’ way of thinking and teachings could get into their mindset and corrupt them. He didn’t want them to start being cynical and skeptical and dependent on traditions more than scripture. He didn’t want hypocrisy to creep into their teaching. He was trying to say that the Pharisees’ way of thinking could corrupt everything like a computer virus invading files and being difficult to get out once it spreads.
(Revelation of God) Jesus was confident in His ability to provide for those around Him. This was not because He was depending upon His own divine power, but because He had faith in His Father’s care and ability. Jesus totally trusted the Father in everything. In the same way, He wanted His disciples to simply take for granted that He would provide for them.
I think Matthew writes the story in this way because it parallels the Pharisees’ obtuseness about the signs of the times. The disciples were worried for nothing. They were being obtuse. They were with the man who had fed 5,000 and 4,000 people on two different occasions from almost nothing, so of course, Jesus could make sure that they were fed. We display the same obtuseness today when we focus on one problem not remembering how many other problems Jesus has led us through in the past.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to stop being obtuse and believe that Jesus will take care of me and has me in His plans and all that I need to do is to stay in connection with Him through His word, prayer, and willingness to serve. He will fill in the empty spaces with His will. I will be taken care of and I will be used. I pray to trust You and remember Your blessings that You have given me. I pray to not ignore the signs and to understand the lessons that You want me to learn.