What Jesus Did! 'Got It Wrong, Again!' — Matthew 16:5-7

The religious leaders have been THE issue in Jesus' recent encounters with the crowds. They give him a hard time. They test him and try to entrap him. They are hypocritical. They are not looking for the truth. They are more concerned about the minutiae of their traditional interpretations of the law than they are about the will of God or the needs of his people. But the religious leaders are clearly opposed to Jesus while the disciples just don't get it. Sometimes I don't understand how Jesus puts up with them. Their concern is their belly. They can't hear the deep things of God for being consumed by the growling in their guts.

But about the time I wonder, "How stupid can they be?" I remember myself, my short-sightedness, my weakness, and my inability to see, hear, and understand the most simple and plain things about the Lord. I am indeed thankful that he is gracious. But then, that brings me back to the hypocritical religious leaders: I must avoid people like them, because they are not gracious since they don't know God, just their traditions.