Yeast of the Pharisees
Mark chapter 8:14-8:21
Introduction-
This morning I want to look at Mark chapter 8:14-21.
It is one of many accounts where Jesus is trying to teach a lesson to hard headed disciples.
In the timeline of Jesus ministry
The disciples have been a part of Jesus driving out evil spirits
healing people
Spent time with Jesus on a boat and Him calming a rough sea
Fed over 5000 on a hillside.
They watched Jesus walk on water
Reward a Syrian women
Now again in chapter 8 he has just fed 4000 plus again.
Jesus and his disciples are journeying on in chapter 8:11-
“The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus, to test him. They asked him for a sign from heaven. (12) He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for miraculous signs? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.”
We pick up the rest of the story in the text this morning.
Mark chapter 8:14-21
The disciples by their own admission forgot to bring bread, to buy some food.
It says that they only had one loaf of bread on the boat.
Doesn’t say but I wonder if that one loaf was left from the last time and last trip on the boat.
(15) Be careful Jesus warns, “Watch out for the yeast of Pharisees and that of Herod.”
What was Jesus telling them?
Warning labels are put on certain products to help us.
People warn us to try to help us.
Warning labels tell us not to drink things that could hurt us.
How to properly use something.
Reading warnings could save your life, or at least help you.
Warnings usually come from someone else’s expense because we do not want to see them get the same results.
Between warnings, experiences, common sense usually lays the truth.
Do you really have to put on a hot cup of coffee that it is hot? Not if you have common sense.
Do you really need to tell someone not to drink paint? Not if you have common sense.
The disciples spent time with Jesus.
They experienced and saw Jesus do tremendous things.
We like to think that we would not be hard headed, and would receive quickly the things that Jesus was teaching.
Picture this scene for a minute- they discover that they have no food. Probably noticed when their stomachs began to growl. Where is the food? Peter was supposed to bring it, no James was suppose to get it. No, no, I remember Jesus telling Matthew to bring it.
The blame game begins! In the series “Taking Responsibility for your life” on Wednesday night we hear all about all kinds of reasons to blame someone else for your shortcomings, forgetfulness, and laziness. It is everyone’s fault except yours.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would take responsibility? Instead of blaming everyone else.
Well, that is not what is happening here.
(16) They discussed this with one another, and said, “it is because we have no bread.”
(17) Aware of this discussion, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about having no bread?
Do you still not see or understand?
Are you hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?
Don’t you remember when I broke the five loaves for the thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? Twelve they replied. And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? They answered seven, He said to them, Do you still not understand?
You don’t understand- you are hear blaming each other for not bringing bread. It is not about bread. I already showed you that bread is not a problem.
“Watch out for the yeast of Pharisee’s and that of Herod.” The disciples had a moment after that, but we need explanation.
The Pharisees wanted signs from heaven
Jesus was always on the hot seat to prove Himself.
Prove His divine calling, show us another miracle.
Jesus says no more!
Because you are asking in unbelief.
Yeast is a symbol of evil and corruption.
A tiny amount of yeast can contaminate a large amount of dough.
The Pharisee’s were people that thought it was more important to follow rules that love and follow God.
They thought they understood how to obey God, but when Jesus came to show them the right way, they would not listen.
Herod was a evil ruler.
Heartless and very selfish in his ways.
Jesus brings us some life lessons. If you read this text too fast, we will miss them.
Herod and the Pharisees were bad influences.
They polluted people with their thoughts and teachings.
Jesus is telling them to be careful that they do not corrupt their teachings.
Don’t let the world change you- you change the world.
Life lesson #1 you make the difference- let God change the way you think and you go out and change the way the world thinks of God.
Jesus warns them, they hear what He is saying, just like the Pharisee’s heard what Jesus said, saw what Jesus did and they react and have a disciple huddle and come up with that Jesus was talking about bread. They didn’t get it!
It was not unusual for a large crowd to hear Jesus speak, but only a few followed Him.
Life lesson-
Don’t be like the Pharisees. They heard but did not listen. They saw but did not believe.
These worldly, unbelieving and doubting ways cause them to miss what Jesus was trying to tell them.
Mark 7 - “He has done everything well.” “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Yet they did not believe what he was saying.
The desire for more signs after many miracles showed their unbelief in their heart.
It is not about the bread- it is about acting like the Pharisees.
Life lesson
Do not let the little things keep you from God.
Do not let the yeast of the Pharisee contaminate your life.
Yeast is a fungus that causes bread to rise. To much yeast will cause the ruin of the bread.
Are your hearts hardened?
Are you blind?
Are you hard of hearing?
Don’t you remember?
That is what Jesus asked those that professed and followed Him.
Spiritually don’t lose your senses.
Don’t let the little things creep up in your life to get you off track.
It is easier for others to pull you down then you to lift them up- so be careful!
Keep your eyes open
Don’t step in a big pile of life and let it get you off track.
To lose focus! Pollute your bread!
Build your faith upon his words- not signs and wonders!
Embrace what He embraces!
Be careful where He tells you to be careful!
Don’t let the world and the things of the worlds cause you to stumble.
Closing-
Take notice to what God is doing, not what the devil is doing.
At least 2 prayer groups have met this week to pray. I am convinced each and every one of us is going through something right now!
Are you going to keep your eyes on Jesus- on what God is doing! Or are you going to let a little bit of yeast spoil your life?
Let God change the way you think.
Let God change your circumstances.
Let God refocus your life.
Take notice to what God is doing.
Jesus saw a potential danger and gave the warning to his disciples, and he is giving it to each one of us today.
1 cor. 5:6-
“Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
“Be careful, watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
Amen.
Get ready for communion.
