February 25, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus and the Religious Leaders of His Day
Scripture: Matthew 16:1-12(NIV)
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Devotional
Jesus warned the disciples to be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus was warning about how quickly anyone can become blinded to the truth by false teachings. Be careful to listen and learn with a discerning heart and mind.
At first the disciples thought when Jesus spoke of leaven that he was referring to physical bread or food. But in this situation, Jesus was using leaven as a metaphor for teaching. False teachings are powerful and can have a damaging effect. Leaven is only a small portion of the volume of bread dough, but has an outsized effect on its substance. In a similar way, the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees had an outsized effect. However, unlike leaven in bread dough, their leaven was harmful.
Because of their religious traditions, the Pharisees and Sadducees had rejected Jesus as Messiah. Worse yet, they denied the realm of the supernatural altogether. The Sadducees even denied a resurrection and the afterlife.
In addition to these beliefs, Jesus had concern for their tactics used for evil purposes and their self-seeking approach to life. They were skilled at framing arguments in such a way to arrive at the outcome they desired. They were not seeking what was true or beneficial to anyone but themselves.
Their legalism was their system to ensure their hold on power. Their rules were rigged to make them look good often at the expense of others. Their system produced self-righteousness and did not produce harmony with God and others. They were self-reliant and lived as if faith in God didn’t matter in everyday life.
Jesus warned his disciples that the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees could contaminate their lives also if they were not careful. Jesus warned that even the smallest bit of leaven could invade and consume their hearts and minds. It does not take long for leaven to rise and consume a heart and a mind. Jesus is still warning us today of leaven that is all around us.
Can you think of a situation when institutional religion displaced the priority of God and His teachings?
Poem
Devastation
Psalm 74
I look around, Lord—
All is ruined
You have left us
Not a single house stands
Not a single road clear
All our cisterns are broken
Death’s stench fills the air
Our bodies emaciate
No crumb can be found
Our treasures plundered
Our walls crumbled to dust
Our army defeated
Their blood sates the earth
Our leaders have cowered
Lawlessness reigns
I look around, Lord
All is ruined
You have left us
