16:5-7 The NIV translation of verse 5 is clearer than that of the NASB. "When they went across the lake"pictures what follows as happening either during the journey, probably by boat, or after it. Jesus was still thinking about the preceding conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees, but the disciples were thinking about food. Leaven or yeast is primarily an illustration of something small that inevitably spreads and has a large effect. Often it stands for the spread of something evil, as it does here (cf. Exod. 34:25; Lev. 2:11; 1 Cor. 5:6-8). The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant because they were thinking in literal terms, but He was speaking metaphorically.
16:8-12 Jesus' rebuke arose from the disciples' failure to believe that He could provide bread for them in spite of their having witnessed two feeding miracles. This was a serious mistake for them.
"The miracles Jesus performs, unlike the signs the Pharisees demand, do not compel faith; but those with faith will perceive their significance."618
The disciples did not perceive their significance, namely that Jesus was the Messiah who could and would provide for His people. In this their attitude was not much different from that of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Jesus did not explain His metaphor to the disciples, but as a good teacher He repeated it forcing them to think more deeply about its meaning. Matthew provided the interpretation for his readers (v. 12). Though the Pharisees and Sadducees differed on several points of theology, they held certain beliefs in common. Specifically the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus warned His disciples about was the skepticism toward divine revelation that resulted in failure to accept Messiah. These critics tried to fit the King and His kingdom into their preconceptions and preferences rather than accepting Him as the Old Testament presented Him.
This section of the Gospel (13:54-16:12) emphasizes the continuing and mounting opposition to the King. Matthew recorded Jesus withdrawing from this opposition twice (14:13; 15:21). In both instances He proceeded to train His disciple. The first time He ministered to Jews, and the second time He ministered to Gentiles. This was the pattern of Jesus' ministry that Matthew hinted at in the first verse of this Gospel. Opposition arose from the Jewish people (13:54-58), from the Romans (14:1-12), and most strongly from the religious leaders within Judaism (15:1-9; 16:1-4). The rejection of this last group finally became so firm that Jesus abandoned them (16:4). From now on He concentrated on preparing His disciples for what lay ahead of them because of Israel's rejection of Her King.
