16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Beware of the teachings of those who call themselves Christians. Beware of any type of teaching, unless it is found with strength. St Paul was taught by the Pharisees and Sadducees. St Paul was very knowledgable in these teachings. He had consumed large amounts of their leaven.
Jesus warns the disciples of falling into their corrupt and dishonorable teachings. But often times we confuse the illustration with the actual message. Jesus is not talking about leaven used in bread, but the leaven of false teaching.
It is likewise good to remember that just a small amount of false teaching creeping into a church will corrupt everything. One might even go so far to say that Jesus is condoning the slippery slope argument. But one should be clear that there is a difference between a false doctrine or bad leaven and true doctrine that might open the door for potential false teaching.
This may be a fine line. But Jesus reminds the Apostles that whether we are talking about Jesus being God and Man or Jesus rising front he dead they are all equally important. It does not matter whether we are talking about Homosexuality being a sin or Jesus' atoning sacrifice. All these doctrines must remain uncorrupt and true. Because they remind us both of our sinful corruption and our Saving grace through Jesus Christ.
Jesus warns the disciples of falling into their corrupt and dishonorable teachings. But often times we confuse the illustration with the actual message. Jesus is not talking about leaven used in bread, but the leaven of false teaching.
It is likewise good to remember that just a small amount of false teaching creeping into a church will corrupt everything. One might even go so far to say that Jesus is condoning the slippery slope argument. But one should be clear that there is a difference between a false doctrine or bad leaven and true doctrine that might open the door for potential false teaching.
This may be a fine line. But Jesus reminds the Apostles that whether we are talking about Jesus being God and Man or Jesus rising front he dead they are all equally important. It does not matter whether we are talking about Homosexuality being a sin or Jesus' atoning sacrifice. All these doctrines must remain uncorrupt and true. Because they remind us both of our sinful corruption and our Saving grace through Jesus Christ.
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