The Leaven of the Pharisees

Interestingly, I (and I am sure not only I) think about Jesus’ teaching concerning the Pharisees, particularly the admonition to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,” as relating to the followers of Jesus then, but not particularly relevant to me now, especially since I am not Jewish. However, I am familiar with those who live by the motto, “do as I say, not as I do”—and I wonder who it is they think they’re fooling? …and the sad reality is that many are being fooled. However, when, in my estimation, I think someone is acting like a Pharisee, it is usually me being judgmental.

We all know people like the Pharisees, and if we’re honest, we’ve all been people whose lifestyle doesn’t match up to our words. …or we expect more of others than we are willing or able to do ourselves. We don’t like people we consider “Pharisees” and can often see through their self-righteousness, though we can rarely see through our own. I’m learning that when I am critical of others, my attitudes and actions tend to mirror those who I am quick to judge; often, I accept more grace for myself than I am willing to extend to others.

Another characteristic of the Pharisees was that they often added rules and expanded laws to make a burdensome religion God never intended to bind upon humanity.

I don’t want to have my perception dulled to the point where I begin to reflect a Pharisaical attitude or take up some of the habits, attitudes, and teachings that reflect what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” I don’t want to try to cover myself with self-righteousness instead of Christ’s righteousness!

“Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And He cautioned them saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 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? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? …’” (Mark 8:14-18)

We really need the grace to perceive and understand that the things Jesus was teaching the disciples is relevant to us, too. I do not want blind eyes, deaf ears, or a hard heart when it comes to my relationship to Jesus and the words He spoke!

The leaven of Herod

 Recently, as I was reading the gospel of Mark and I noticed this scripture, I really noticed it. I was familiar with scriptures referring to the leaven of the Pharisees, but not to the leaven of Herod, When I consider the leaven of the Pharisees, I think of covert sin and hypocrisy, but Herod? He was a political leader.

In fact, Jesus called him a fox.

“At that time some Pharisees came and told him, ‘Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go tell that fox, “Look, I’m driving out demons and performing healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work….” (Luke 13:31-32)

They were trying to get rid of Jesus because what He was saying and doing did not fit their agenda. It is interesting that Jesus referred to Herod as a fox. A fox is considered a sly creature, sneaky and deceptive. Stealing hens from the henhouse. Not to be trusted.

While the leaven of the Pharisees had to do with religious and spiritual matters, Herod was concerned with power and politics. We are familiar with the story of Herod divorcing his Nabataean wife and marrying Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, Philip. Though confronted by John the Baptist (and having John beheaded) and later, when hearing about the miracles of Jesus, he thought maybe Jesus was John back from the dead—but not concerned enough to repent.

What he did, he did to gain power and influence in the Roman empire. When spiritual integrity or Biblical ethics don’t fit the political agenda, then those who seek to serve the Creator God become enemies of the state.

Knowing that the scripture is as relevant today as it was when it was written, I can’t help but think about how “the leaven of Herod” influences us today. How do we “beware” of the leaven of Herod? What political influences and challenges do we face these days that we need to take note of and avoid? Are we more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct?

Have we become so wrapped up in the politics of this world that we are forgetting Jesus’ commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”? (Matthew 28:19, 20)

As we navigate these last days with our faith in God and confidence in the Scriptures, we need to recognize that there are foxes amongst us—the twisting of scripture, the new “tolerance” instead of God’s righteous love for humanity. Anyone or anything that doesn’t align with the Word of God is set to lead us down the path of deception. That could be a whole other discussion, couldn’t it? I’ve heard the rationalizing, discounting, and twisting of scripture to justify particular sins. It’s not going to get better! That’s why staying close to Jesus and immersed in His Word are the best things we can do!