Section 81a
Warning about the error of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians
On the Sea of Galilee
Matthew 16:5-12
Mark 8:13-21
13Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went away to the other side of the sea.
5When his disciples reached the other side of the sea, they realized that they had forgotten to bring bread. 6Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7So they discussed this among themselves, saying, “He must have said this because we brought no bread.” 8Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you discussing among yourselves, O you of little faith, the fact that you brought no bread? 9Do you not yet understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you collected? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you collected? 11How could you not understand that I was not talking about bread when I told you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?” 12Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
14Now the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had nothing with them in the boat except for one loaf. 15Then Jesus gave them strict orders, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16So they discussed this with one another, saying, “He must have said this because we have no bread.” 17Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts still hardened? 18Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? Do you not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” They said, “Seven.” 21Then he said to them, “How is it that you do not understand?”
Notes
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful blue freshwater lake. Because it is shaped like a harp, it is called Yam Kinneret (Numbers 34:11) in Hebrew, from the word kinnor, which means “harp.” It was also known as the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1) after the large city, built by Herod Antipas, which is located on its shores. It was also called Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1)
The Sea of Galilee is fed by the Jordan River, which brings water from the melting snows of Mount Hermon to the north. Additional water comes from the numerous springs around the lake, many of which are hot springs. The hot water from these springs allows even tropical fish to thrive. The very high rate of evaporation from the lake raises the humidity to an average of 65% in the area over and around the lake; such an environment also enables tropical plants and fruit to grow.
The lake is now 12.5 miles long and 7 miles wide, with a circumference of 32 miles. It may have been slightly longer in Jesus’ time, since the lake may have receded somewhat in the north near Bethsaida. The surface of the lake is about 700 feet below sea level.
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Footnotes
Mark 8,18
Ezekiel 12:2