Satisfied needs
The disciples of Jesus Christ had many experiences with the Lord with regards to their needs being met. Jesus attended to their physical, emotional, spiritual, and material needs, . He healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever (Mt8:13-15). Matthew the tax collector whom, as some scholars suggest, that because he was a publican or a tax collector was suffering from an anger disorder (Mt9:9). And, Mary Magdalene who had several demonic oppression in her life, Jesus liberated her from became one of his ministers (Lk8:2). There experiences with Christ maintained there hearts opened to his teachings and none other. The ministering of the material needs was particularly interesting, because the disciples were always with him, and so they needed food, clothing and water. In fact, Jesus and his disciples like everyone else needed to pay taxes, and so in one occasion Jesus sent Peter to fetch a coin out of a fish mouth (Mt17:27). In another occasion when the disciples came to the beach, Jesus already had bread and fish ready for them to eat. Their needs were always met and they never went in want while they were with the Lord, and same is with us.
Matthew 16:5-7
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Because Jesus always met his disciples needs along with those that were always with him, they became a bit careless with always walking prepared and forgot to carry food. So, Jesus warns them of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, of which confused the disciples; because it went from attending the material needs to a spiritual one. And, this was because the Pharisees demanded a sign from heaven, but no sign was going to happen just the sign of Jonah. Now, the sign of Jonah was the swallowing of him by the big fish for three days and nights and the preaching that he was ordered to do (Jna3:2-4). These religious individuals lost the concept of time and focused on temporal needs and not the actual time in life. The fact the Messiah was right in front of them, with so many signs and wonders that testified of his deity it upset Jesus that they asked him for a sign from heaven. The leaven was a symbol of the sincere and truth, and what they held truth was on the contrary to what God thinks.
Jesus warns his disciples of the falsehood of what those religious people held to be truth. Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me”(J14:6). The teaching that there are other things equally important to what God holds true are wrong and we should not allow ourselves to be influenced by such. That is why Jesus warns his disciples to be careful to what they hold to be true.
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
Luke 8:2
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Jonah 3:2-4
2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.