The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Scripture:

When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 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.” 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. Matthew 16:5-12

Observation:

“Be careful! Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” said the Lord to His disciples. Puzzled, they began to discuss and conclude that their Master was somehow chiding them for forgetting to bring bread before they crossed the lake. However, the Lord was not interested in the physical bread. He had just fed five thousand with five loaves and four thousand with seven loaves with many basketfuls leftover. Food was not the issue here but rather the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

They were the religious elite of Israel. They were the leaders everyone looked up to in spiritual matters, yet their teachings were wrong. From the pure Word of God, they had created an elaborate system of traditions and interpretations made to suit their own desires and to glorify themselves. This was the yeast that they added to the true bread and corrupted it. They had the Word of God but did not know God. Their hearts were for their own pride and they worshipped religion rather than God. By their vain teachings, they put heavy burdens on men and gloated at their own perceived righteousness over the common people of the land.  

How different Jesus was! He mixed with prostitutes and tax collectors and sinners. He came to seek and save the lost, not caring what others might think about Him. He was not after a popularity contest but purely loved the people, and sought to turn them to God.

Application:

Consider the metaphor of bread as teachings. Earlier, when He was tempted, the Lord quoted from Deuteronomy, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God”. Our physical man feeds on physical food like bread, but our spiritual man feeds on spiritual food, which is the Word of God. Do we read the Word of God? Do we feed our Spirit man? We must partake of God’s Word regularly via regular Bible reading.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The disciples were so focused on the physical issues that they missed the spiritual lesson! In everyday life, there are different ways God speaks to us, and teaches us. We need only open our eyes and look, and trust in His guidance to reveal great truths to us. “God does speak, now one way, now another, though we do not perceive it” as stated in Job.

Now all Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness. Yet, many also have manipulated the Word of God to create terrifying cults that have deceived thousands, even millions in the world. How do we know when we are being taught false teachings?

In those days, the Pharisees and Sadduccees married the Word of God with their yeast, their own man-made traditions and goals. Today, many also do the same, marrying the Word of God with other sources. Some cults will say only their leader can interpret the Bible correctly. Some will attribute authority to another source in addition to the Bible like a certain “Newsletter”. Some will only focus on selected portions of the Bible while neglecting large portions which may be unpopular to the masses. Basically, any teaching that tries to marry the Bible with outside authoritative teachings or exclude large portions of the Bible are to be considered immediately suspect. We need to prayerfully ask God for wisdom and be grounded ourselves in the Word so that we may not be swayed by wrong teachings.

Prayer:

Praise thee, Heavenly Lord, for You hold all things in Your hands. We thank You and praise You for giving us all we have, and revealing Your truth to us. Build up our spirit man we pray O Lord. Give us a fresh hunger for Your Word, which is bread to our spiritual man. Help us grow in You and understand Your Word more and more. Open our minds, O Lord to understand.

We thank You, Lord Jesus, that You brought out great truths out of simple, everyday events. Help us watch out for lessons You may teach us at any given moment, for You always speak, though man may fail to listen. Guard us O Lord, and give us Your wisdom to reject all false teachings, no matter how good they may sound. We entrust ourselves and our families to You, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.