Spiritual Discernment in the Midst of Perilous Times*
The Pharisees and Sadducees, who represented the religious leadership, came to Jesus and demanded that He show them a sign from heaven. He had even recently fed thousands from a small amount of food, but still they demanded a sign. Jesus acknowledged that they were able to discern the day's weather from the meaning of a red sky at morning or night, but added: "...O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall be no sign given unto it, but the sign of Jonah." He later said to His disciples: "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." His disciples thought He was speaking of bread that they had not brought with them, but after His correction ("O ye of little faith..."), the disciples then "understood ...how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine ( ...