Because of their unbelief and rejection, Jesus provided the Pharisees and Sadducees with no explanation of the sign of Jonah. Instead, He leaves them to wrestle with the implications of their refusal to interpret the signs Biblically and their rejection of the sign of heaven standing before them. Jesus’ confrontation with these theological leaders sets the stage for His warning to the disciples regarding the importance of discerning the influences that shape one’s beliefs. In Matthew 16:5-12, Jesus addresses three topics: leaven, perception, and discernment.
