#preachingfromthebiblenet Pastor Huỳnh Christian Timothy (1954): Mark 8:11–21 The Pharisees Ask for a Sign – The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod Today, May 5, 2026, in the grace of God, let us rejoice together, read and reflect on God’s Word in Mark 8:11–21. 11 And the Pharisees came forth and began to question with Him, seeking from Him a sign from Heaven, testing Him. 12 And He sighed deeply in His spirit and said, "Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, there shall no sign be given unto this generation." 13 And He left them and, entering into the boat again, departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the boat with them more than one loaf. 15 And He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread." 17 And when Jesus knew it, He said unto them, "Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? Do ye not yet perceive, nor understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? And do ye not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?" They said unto Him, "Twelve." 20 "And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?" And they said, "Seven." 21 And He said unto them, "How is it that ye do not understand?" Reflection Suggestions: 1. The Pharisees “tested” Jesus by asking for a sign from heaven. In my life of faith, have I ever demanded that Jesus prove Himself through signs according to my will, instead of trusting Him through His Word? 2. Jesus “sighed deeply in His spirit” at the hardness of that generation. Do I truly pay attention to the things that grieve His heart today? 3. Jesus warned His disciples to beware of “the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Here, leaven can symbolize wrong values, hypocrisy, or worldly influence. What “leaven” is lurking and could corrupt my life of faith? 4. The disciples worried about having no bread, even though Jesus had just performed miracles of multiplying bread. Why do people often forget the mighty works of Jesus in the past when facing new difficulties? 5. Jesus asked the disciples many questions: “Why do you not understand… perceive… are hardened… do not see… do not hear… do not remember?” What deeper reality in their hearts were these questions meant to awaken? 6. He recalled two miracles of multiplying bread with specific numbers (12 baskets, 7 baskets). What role does remembering and reflecting on specific blessings Jesus has done in the past play in sustaining my faith today? 7. Jesus’ concluding question: “Do you not yet understand?” seems to remain open even today. Am I truly understanding that Jesus is all-powerful and sufficient to meet every need, or am I still living in anxiety and confusion? Application Suggestions: 1. This week, whenever I face difficulties or temptations, I will pause and ask myself: “Am I ‘testing’ Jesus, or am I coming to Him in faith and surrender?” I will change my prayer attitude from demanding to seeking His will. 2. Before judging or arguing with others about faith, I will learn from Jesus’ attitude: though aware of their hardness, He still “sighed deeply in His spirit” with compassion. I will practice empathy and patience. 3. I will take time to examine the “leaven” in my life today: subtle influences of hypocrisy (like the Pharisees) or worldliness and indulgence (like Herod). I will identify one specific “leaven” to avoid this week. 4. When I worry about material needs (like the disciples worrying about bread), I will immediately remind myself of the times Jesus has provided for me in the past. I will write down at least three blessings He has given to my family. 5. I will examine my spiritual condition through Jesus’ questions in this passage. Today, do I have “eyes but do not see” His works, “ears but do not hear” His voice through Scripture? I will ask Him to open my eyes and ears each time I read His Word. 6. I will practice remembrance: recording the times Jesus has answered prayers and provided miraculously in my life (like the 12 baskets or 7 baskets), so that when trials come, I have a “storehouse of faith memories” to fight doubt and anxiety. 7. Each night before sleeping, I will examine my heart with the question: “Today, have I understood more about Jesus and His Gospel?” If not, I will ask Him to grant me wisdom and revelation to grow in the knowledge of Him. Reference: https://timhieuthanhkinh.com/tin-lanh-cua-duc-chua-jesus-christ-tl077-men-cua-nhung-nguoi-pha-ri-si-va-cua-nhung-nguoi-sa-du-se/