This document provides a summary of Matthew 16:5-12 and discusses the key ideas around viral influences. It notes that both evil and God's power can spread virally. Jesus warns His disciples about the negative influence of some religious leaders, likening it to yeast. The disciples were initially ineffective "vaccines" against this, thinking carnally rather than seeing spiritually. However, as they grew under Christ's guidance, they transformed into powerful "vaccines", spreading the gospel widely. The parallel is drawn to the current pandemic and need for effective vaccines to overcome deadly viruses, just as the kingdom of God will overcome evil influences.

1. VIRAL INFLUENCES

2. GRACIOUS JESUS
(MATTHEW’S PERSPECTIVE WITH GOSPEL PARALLELS)
1. Presenting the King (Matt 1-4)
2. Winning Attitudes (Matt 5:1-12)
3. Kingdom Lifestyle – Part 1 (Matt 5:13-
48)
4. Kingdom Lifestyle – Part 2 (Matt 6)
5. Kingdom Lifestyle – Part 3 (Matt 7)
6. The King’s Touch (Matt 8)
7. The King Calls (Matt 9)
8. The King Commissions (Matt 10)
9. Wisdom and Greatness (Matt 11)
10. Servant Leadership (Matt 12)
11. Hidden Wisdom (Matt 13:1-43)
12. Hidden Treasures (Matt 13:44-14)
13. Gates of Heaven and Hell
(Matt 15-17:9)
14. Winning Others Over (Matt 17:10-
18:35)
15. Kingdom Values, Kingdom Wealth
(Matt 20)
16. The Royal Entry (Matt 21)
17. The Chosen Few (Matt 22)
18. The King’s Glorious Coming (Matt
24:1-44)
19. The Final Reckoning (Matt 24:45 –
25:46)
20. The King’s last days (Matt 26)
21. The King Conquers (Matt 27)

3. THE GALL AND THE
GLORY (MATT 15:1-17:9)
68. Empty Traditions
69. Persistent faith
70. Compelled by Compassion
71. Viral Influences
72. Keys to the Kingdom
73. Death Prediction
74. Discipleship
75. A glimpse of glory

4. Matt 16:5-12; Mark 8.14-21; Luke 12:1
Matthew 16:5 When they went across the lake, the
disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus
said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of
the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said,
“It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of
little faith, why are you talking among yourselves
about having no bread?
VIRAL INFLUENCES

5. VIRAL INFLUENCES
Matthew 16:9 Do you still not understand? Don’t
you remember the five loaves for the five
thousand, and how many basketfuls you
gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four
thousand, and how many basketfuls you
gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I
was not talking to you about bread? But be on
your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and
Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was
not telling them to guard against the yeast used in
bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees
and Sadducees.

6. OVERVIEW
Introduction
Some Religious Leaders – The evil virus
Upcoming Disciples – The ineffective vaccine
Growing Disciples – The powerful vaccine

7. INTRODUCTION
There are two kinds of influences – positive and negative
Both the power of evil and the power of God have the
capacity of multiplying and spreading virally.
Jesus warns His disciples of the negative effect of most of
the Pharisees and Saducees and reminds them of the power
He has shown to multiply bread.

8. SOME RELIGIOUS
LEADERS - THE EVIL
VIRUS
It works like leaven (yeast)
Just a few bad people mixed in a lot of good ones
make the whole lot bad
They twist God’s law to their own version
They oppress those who don’t follow the
contortions
They major on minors and miss the majors
They misuse their God given authority for selfish
purpose
Rather than draw people to God they draw them
away

9. SOME RELIGIOUS
LEADERS - THE EVIL
VIRUS
Where does the greatest danger lie? In the secular world?
In this passage Jesus highlights some religious leaders as
most dangerous in terms of spreading corruption.
Today Christians divert issues to the Government failure,
persecution, etc, etc.
When it comes to standing up and help sanctify our own
churches and hold people accountable, many remain silent.

10. UPCOMING DISCIPLES -
THE INEFFECTIVE
VACCINE
Mark 8:17 Aware of their discussion,
Jesus asked them: “Why are you
talking about having no bread? Do
you still not see or understand? Are
your hearts hardened? 18 Do you
have eyes but fail to see, and ears
but fail to hear? And don’t you
remember? 19 When I broke the five
loaves for the five thousand, how
many basketfuls of pieces did you
pick up?”

11. UPCOMING DISCIPLES -
THE INEFFECTIVE
VACCINE
When Jesus heard “bread” he thought of the
multiplication effect of yeast
and similar viral effect of the Pharisees’ false
teachings and lives.
The disciples on the other hand thought of
food and the stomach.
Jesus calls them “blind” and “hard hearted”.

12. WHEN ARE WE
INEFFECTIVE?
When our thoughts are largely on earthly
things
When we leave all the good works to Jesus
The disciples failed at times in casting
demons, feeding 5000, walking on water, etc.
When we are good followers of Jesus but
miss out on big things God wants to do
through usas his disciples did in the early
stages.
. The “big” things we see are not the ones
God sees.

13. OFT MISQUOTED
SCRIPTURE
These scriptures are often used in a carnal and material
context:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
(Philippians 4:13)
“I was hungry and you fed me” (Matthew 25:35)
“as much as you do to the least of these my brethren you do
it to me” (Matthew 25:40)
“all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28)
“blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”
(Matthew 5:4)
And many others….

14. OFT MISQUOTED
SCRIPTURE – WHAT
THEY REALLY MEAN
“I can do (endure not achieve) all things through
Christ who strengthens me”
“I was hungry (spiritually) and you fed me”
“as much as you do to the least of these my
brethren (spiritually weak not materially poor)”
“all things work together for good (for those who
love God and serve Him according to His
purpose)”
“blessed are those who mourn (lament over our
sin) for they shall be comforted”

15. OPEN THE EYES OF
OUR HEART
Let us ask God to OPEN our eyes
As we SEARCH for the TRUTH
In His WORD
AGAIN and AGAIN

16. POPULAR TEACHINGS
To what kinds of meetings do the biggest crowds go?
What are the teachings that gather the largest
audiences?
In the latter half of the 20th century there was an
evangelistic revival. Evangelism was a powerful viral
influence on the world
In the early part of the 21st century, it’s all about
health, and prosperity.
Sin and its associated symptoms is hardly dealt with.

17. GROWING DISCIPLES -
THE POWERFUL VACCINE
As they grew and came full circle under Christ’s
guidance, they transformed.
They taught Christ’s truths
They started the viral growth of the Kingdom of
Heaven – spreading the “Bread” of life just as
Jesus did.

18. THE PARALLEL WARFARE
Covid 19 gives us a glimpse of the danger of a deadly
virus and the need for an effective vaccine.
Jesus warns the disciples that of the deadly opposition
which will grow and multiply.
He also reminds them that the Kingdom of God will
also grow and overcome this deadly evil.
However warfare will exist
between the two.
Wherever the power of the
Holy Spirit dominates, there
will be victory.

19. DISCUSSION
1. What are some symptoms that show us
that we are not yet growing adequately
in the faith?
2. What are some destructive thought
patterns that bind us to thinking
carnally?
3. How do we ensure to be useful
“vaccines” against the prevalent evils
around?