The blindness I mean is blindness that keeps you from seein’ the truth.”
–Zane Grey (Riders of the Purple Sage)
“In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
–2 Corinthians 4:4 (HCSB)
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Here is another one of the short yet poignant verses that we often overlook or easily glance at.
“And He was giving orders to them, saying, ‘Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.’”
–Mark 8:15(NASB)
J.B. Phillips translates it, “Keep your eyes open! Be on your guard…” Whereas, Henry A. Harbuck puts it this way, “Jesus began to [seriously] warn them, saying, ‘Be careful and watchful and be on guard…'” Stay alert, be on guard–against what? Leaven?
Jesus had just been asked for a sign whereupon He replied that there would be no sign given to this generation, then while talking with His disciples we find this verse. Look first at the Pharisees; they were marked by hypocrisy. The Pharisees wished to hold on to their self-righteous assumptions that they merited blessing from God, and so they had no place for a Savior. Herod is marked by hostility. He wished to hold on to the power he wielded over the people, so he had no place for the King. Both were committed to a blindness to the truth; both were saying “I don’t want to find out what Jesus means, and I certainly will not accept that He is my Saviour or my King.” Jesus is warning His disciples to guard against that attitude. (Alistair Begg)
Paul writes to the Corinthians and also the Galatians warning them that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. So what is meant by “leaven”? This word for leaven is referring to the process of fermentation and is used as a symbol of corruption. Leaven is often used to refer to evil in the Scriptures. In other words, the disciples were told to be on the lookout for the evil fermentation of the Pharisees and Herodians. William Barclay writes, “Be on your guard against the evil influence of the Pharisees and of Herod. Don’t you go the same way that the Pharisees and Herod have already gone.”
It must have been significant for Jesus to warn them. “Giving orders” means to do so repeatedly. The order stands and continues to stand. “Take heed” is to become acquainted with and to think about the situation using discrimination (Swaggart). There were to continually be doing this. “They were to remain watchful and consider the ultimate consequences of this leaven of the Pharisees.” (Swaggart)
I like what Alistair Begg says about this “leaven.” “When pride rears its ugly head, it can lead us to judge the Scriptures rather than learning from them. When we stand in judgment over God’s word, though, what we might regard as trivial and insignificant tweaking of truth will actually become leaven–the yeast–which spreads throughout the entire bread of our convictions.” It is not up to us to declare that we have a better idea, or give our opinion as to what God actually meant. We must accept Him for who His is and who He says He is.
There are many, and the numbers are growing, within and without the church, who say they have a better idea. Or that this is what the Bible really says. There are those who refuse to even hear the words of the Gospel, and dismiss flippantly that Jesus is the only way to God. “That’s why people can read the Bible and see nothing–can listen to the gospel story and hear nothing.” (Begg) They are more enlightened. The disciples didn’t understand for they thought Jesus was talking about the fact that they had no bread. Can it be that our ears are that dull of hearing and our mind loaded with fog?
Remember, it only takes a little leaven. Only a little sin here, and a little there. Pretty soon the dough will be overflowing and it cannot be stopped as in a Three Stooges’ parody. Do not be so proud as to assume that you do not need Jesus, and need Him in every part of your life.
——————————–
Here is another one of the short yet poignant verses that we often overlook or easily glance at.
“And He was giving orders to them, saying, ‘Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.’”
–Mark 8:15(NASB)
J.B. Phillips translates it, “Keep your eyes open! Be on your guard…” Whereas, Henry A. Harbuck puts it this way, “Jesus began to [seriously] warn them, saying, ‘Be careful and watchful and be on guard…'” Stay alert, be on guard–against what? Leaven?
Jesus had just been asked for a sign whereupon He replied that there would be no sign given to this generation, then while talking with His disciples we find this verse. Look first at the Pharisees; they were marked by hypocrisy. The Pharisees wished to hold on to their self-righteous assumptions that they merited blessing from God, and so they had no place for a Savior. Herod is marked by hostility. He wished to hold on to the power he wielded over the people, so he had no place for the King. Both were committed to a blindness to the truth; both were saying “I don’t want to find out what Jesus means, and I certainly will not accept that He is my Saviour or my King.” Jesus is warning His disciples to guard against that attitude. (Alistair Begg)
Paul writes to the Corinthians and also the Galatians warning them that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. So what is meant by “leaven”? This word for leaven is referring to the process of fermentation and is used as a symbol of corruption. Leaven is often used to refer to evil in the Scriptures. In other words, the disciples were told to be on the lookout for the evil fermentation of the Pharisees and Herodians. William Barclay writes, “Be on your guard against the evil influence of the Pharisees and of Herod. Don’t you go the same way that the Pharisees and Herod have already gone.”
It must have been significant for Jesus to warn them. “Giving orders” means to do so repeatedly. The order stands and continues to stand. “Take heed” is to become acquainted with and to think about the situation using discrimination (Swaggart). There were to continually be doing this. “They were to remain watchful and consider the ultimate consequences of this leaven of the Pharisees.” (Swaggart)
I like what Alistair Begg says about this “leaven.” “When pride rears its ugly head, it can lead us to judge the Scriptures rather than learning from them. When we stand in judgment over God’s word, though, what we might regard as trivial and insignificant tweaking of truth will actually become leaven–the yeast–which spreads throughout the entire bread of our convictions.” It is not up to us to declare that we have a better idea, or give our opinion as to what God actually meant. We must accept Him for who His is and who He says He is.
There are many, and the numbers are growing, within and without the church, who say they have a better idea. Or that this is what the Bible really says. There are those who refuse to even hear the words of the Gospel, and dismiss flippantly that Jesus is the only way to God. “That’s why people can read the Bible and see nothing–can listen to the gospel story and hear nothing.” (Begg) They are more enlightened. The disciples didn’t understand for they thought Jesus was talking about the fact that they had no bread. Can it be that our ears are that dull of hearing and our mind loaded with fog?
Remember, it only takes a little leaven. Only a little sin here, and a little there. Pretty soon the dough will be overflowing and it cannot be stopped as in a Three Stooges’ parody. Do not be so proud as to assume that you do not need Jesus, and need Him in every part of your life.