Scripture

“Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Observation

The Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus and demand a sign. Jesus condemns them for this, and says the only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah.

When Jesus is alone with the disciples, He warns them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They think He is talking about physical bread, but Jesus reminds them of the two miracles where he fed 5000 and then 4000 men.

Finally, the disciples understand that He is talking about the deceptive teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Application

The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees refers to the teachings of these groups that are still in the church.

The Pharisees are well known for their insistence on obedience to the letter of the law. They had rules and interpretations that covered every aspect of life. They were legalists who taught that salvation comes from following the rule.

The Sadducees were the more worldly-wise “don’t rock the boat” types. They co-operated with the ruling authorities to maintain their position of privilege. They are like the people and churches who are “affirming” of of the LGBT ideology to avoid offending anyone.

The yeast reminds us that it only takes a small quantity of these teachings to corrupt the whole loaf.

The correct response is not to get carried away with heresy hunting. No, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus alone. He is our salvation, our strength, our wisdom.

Prayer

Lord, please remove from me all forms of legalism and compromise. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen.