Leaven of the Pharisees
Today’s text is Mark 8:14-21.
14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
1. The repeated theme of hypocrisy. (vs. 14-15) Here Jesus again talks of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They had just gotten through with asking for “a sign from heaven”. Here, the religious of this world claim to have the inside corner on all things spiritual. It is Jesus Himself who broke all pre-conceived notions, all earthly thoughts as to who God is. The same is true today. How many “religious” folks drive away sinners from the Lord?
2. The disciples are slow (as we are also). (vs. 16-21) Even in the midst of seeing the feeding of over 9000 people in total, the disciples have their mind set on worldly things. I was reading this morning this passage from Philippians 3:17-21:
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Meditation: I am forced to examine my own life in light of these words. Is my god my belly? In other words, do I not only satisfy my appetite for food (literally the belly), but also for all other sorts of pleasure (figuratively the belly)? I believe Paul is talking about here when he says, “belly”, all sorts of earthly things that we set our minds upon. Bank accounts, pleasure seeking in the form of entertainment, comfort, food, and drink, and any other addictive thing. Is my appetite for all of these things my god? This is what the disciples themselves set their minds upon – literal food.
Can I subdue these cravings? Can I make the spiritual man overcome the flesh man within me? What about you? How do you stack up?
Perhaps we need to do more fasting and praying, not just fasting OR praying. It’s a whole lot easier to pray (in form only) than to fast. However, remember what Jesus has said to the disciples about a demon being cast out: “this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 am and is filed under Devotional. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
