Out Of Context
Have you ever been engaged in a conversation and a switch to a different subject happened, but someone never made the switch and started talking based on what was being discussed two or three subjects before?
Have you ever been in a situation in which someone, oblivious to what was going on around them, suggested something completely out of place with what was actually occurring?
We call these types of scenarios “out-of-context.” A statement made by someone taken out of context leads to a wrong conclusion about the point being made. This happened to Jesus.
Matthew 16:5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” 8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The disciples likely thought they were astute when they deduced that Jesus was talking about the lack of bread. However, they had boarded a boat and gone to the other side after witnessing and participating in the miracle of feeding the multitude. They witnessed bread being multiplied, and now the next mission was underway. Upon arriving in Magdala, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus and asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. Some significant time had passed since the miracle feeding, and now Jesus is dealing with the religious leaders in another region wanting signs. Jesus rebukes them for their ability to predict the weather based on watching the sky in the morning but being unable to understand the signs of the times. Much has transpired since the miracle on the other side of the lake took place. But the disciples arrive, realizing they forgot to bring any bread, and they are concerned about it, and it leads them to think Jesus is talking about bread.
Sometimes, a person can feel they are in step when they make a deduction based on word association. That was what the disciples were doing here. They heard the word “leaven,” but their minds were still on the fish and the loaves. When they heard the word “leaven,” they thought maybe we were supposed to keep some of the bread to bring with us. However, Jesus had moved on to the next thing that needed to be considered. Jesus is speaking of an encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees that just unfolded. The disciples were out of context in their thinking, but thinking they understood.
Missing the context can result in an unrealized misunderstanding that, unless pointed out, will remain. I wonder how many of the twelve that day were confident they understood what Jesus was saying until He clarified it? What would have been even worse would have been if they resisted Him when He brought clarification and would have continued to state their opinion on it. Clinging to an opinion based on an assumption made from an out-of-context perspective is not a position that will bring good results. It is wise to make sure you are in the right context of the moment and understand what transpired in that context before inserting an opinion as though you were an expert—context matters.
