M16: THE YEASTY BEASTY
M16: LEAVEN THAT’LL KEEP YOU FROM HEAVEN
Matthew 16:5-12
#m16sermons
INTRODUCTION… My First and Only Breadmaker (p)
When Kelly and I got married in 1998, we had a wedding registry like all couples do nowadays. A wedding registry, if you do not know, is a list from various stores and folks buy from those lists so the couple gets what they need or want. Among the things I wanted, was an automatic bread maker. I imagined starting the bread each evening and then letting it do its thing and waking up to the smell of fresh baked bread every morning with little to no effort. I remember telling Kelly that we would never have to buy bread from a store ever again. I was so confident at the time that I would never again step foot in the bread aisle.
Well, we did get the bread maker. The bread maker was awesome and new and shiny and so complicated to use. You had to put flour in it and then have yeast for some reason, but the yeast had to be activated by warm water and not cold water or water that was too hot. My first batch of bread looked like a ramp in that only half of the bread rose. My second batch of bread looked good, but did not taste good. My third batch of bread never happened. The bread maker that I desired so much sat in storage for 20 years until we sold it at a yard sale for $10.
I blame the yeast.
CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 16
Jesus is gaining some fame in His ministry and people are responding to His teachings and people all around are talking about Him. Jesus has been healing many people (Matthew 15:29-31). Lame folks are getting popular with their friends… no not that kind of lame… but physically lame people are physically walking. Mute people are speaking. Some with demon possession are healed. Blind people are seeing. Mothers-in-law are nicer. Jesus is performing miraculous healings and signs along with His teaching and preaching to show that He is Who He says He is… the promised prophet called the Messiah Who would bring salvation.
Not only has Jesus been healing, but He has also been doing other miracles like feeding 4,000 people (Matthew 15:32-39) with just a few loaves and a few fish. Not only did He feed all those people with the small food on hand, but there were leftovers. The feeding of the 4,000 is mentioned at the end of chapter 15 right before chapter 16 begins. This means the disciples has bread on their minds which is probably why Jesus teaches the way He does in chapter 16.
Jesus is gaining popularity among crowds of people and they are listening to Him about repentance and the Kingdom of God and forgiveness and love and holiness. While Jesus is doing all of this, He is also being monitored by religious leaders. In Matthew 16, we are told that Pharisees and Sadducees come and test Him and try to discredit Him because they felt threatened by Him. Pharisees were popular among the people as religious leaders and the Sadducees were politically powerful as religious leaders. Together they make up the religious leadership of the Jews and together they are a dangerous team.
THE METAPHOR OF YEAST
Yeasts are single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. Yeast is a natural bubble making fungus that people have used for years. Different types of yeast are used in beer, wine, different breads, to remove environmental pollutants, ethanol fuels, root beer, kambucha, vegemite, some probiotics, aquariums, and can even bee found in bee stomachs. Yeast is also probably that thing that makes your dog smell bad. Yeast is everywhere and gets everywhere. That is sort of the point!
The phrase "yeast of the Pharisees" that we will read about in a moment in Matthew 16 originates from a biblical metaphor used by Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke chapter 12 and in this passage (Matthew 16). In these passages, Jesus warns His disciples to beware of the "yeast of the Pharisees," which he explains metaphorically as hypocrisy or the tendency towards several; related bad attitudes.
Yeast, in this context, symbolizes something that spreads and permeates, much like how yeast leavens bread and causes it to rise. It is supposed to do that anyway, based on my limited experience. Overall, Jesus was cautioning His followers against adopting the attitudes and behaviors of the Pharisees, who were religious leaders known for their strict adherence to outward religious laws while often lacking genuine faith or humility on the inside. It is the nature of yeast to spread and infect everything around it that makes it a good metaphor for Jesus.
Jesus mentions yeast and has some pretty sharp words for people that He symbolically associates with yeast. As we read in Matthew 16, please note that the word “yeast” is used in some English versions and “leaven” is used in others. It is the same thing. For example: “unleavened bread” is bread made without yeast.
TRANSITION
Now that we have a little context, let’s dig into Matthew 16:5-12.
READ MATTHEW 16:5-12 (ESV)
“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.”
Verse 5 is a bit comical in that Jesus had fed thousands of people and had leftovers and the disciples didn’t bring any bread or any of the leftovers with them. The boys did not pack well for their activities. Jesus uses this opportunity to use bread or rather yeast in bread to teach the disciples a spiritual lesson. Initially, the disciples thought He was telling them not to take any bread given to them by the religious leaders, but soon figured out He was being metaphorical and using yeast symbolically.
Jesus was using yeast to talk about hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy or a hypocrite is not a nice word, but one that means a person believes one thing and does another. It means a person teaches people to do one thing, but does altogether something different themselves. It is the appearance of one thing, but really being another. Being a hypocrite means a person is a liar, imposter, charlatan, phoney, deceiver, faker, imposter, storyteller, fraud, dissembler, double-dealer, pretender, bluffer, fabricator or a fibber. “Hypocrite” is not exclusively a religious word, but the dictionary does attach “virtue” and “religion” to its first definition and so this word is almost always associated with religious people.
The actual word “hypocrite” occurs one time in the Old Testament in Psalm 26:4.
READ PSALM 26:4 (ESV)
“I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.”
The word hypocrite is parallel to people of falsehood. The context of this word (1x) and words like it (27x) in the Old Testament contains the idea of being hidden or concealed. People who practice falsehood do it by hiding their true intentions and motives.
In the New Testament, the Greek word for hypocrite occurs 18 times. Jesus often uses this word to describe the religious leaders of Israel: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes, and others. He often tells His disciples to not be like these religious leaders, doing one thing in public and being another way in private.
TRANSITION & PURPOSE
I was thinking about all the ways that Jesus was warning the disciples not to be like the hypocritical Pharisees and I came up with several different forms of their hypocrisy that Jesus might have further warned the disciples about and is a further warning we should take to heart as well.
It is my prayer for us that we…
… be authentic believers of Jesus and bear the name of Christ in an honest manner
… say one thing and do that one thing
… match on the inside and outside with our faith
What are some forms of hypocrisy that Jesus could have warned them about?
THREE FORMS OF THE PHARISEE’S ISSUE
First, we have the Outward Display vs. Inner Reality. This is what my brain calls “classic hypocrisy.” This occurs when individuals or groups of people outwardly display religious acts or adherence to religious activities like attending services, prayer or charity work, but do not genuinely believe in much. Outwardly they appear to practice these principles in their personal lives, but in reality, inside they do not.
Jesus further describes this of the Pharisees and others in Matthew 23:27:
READ Matthew 23:27 (ESV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”
A great example of this in the New Testament is Judas Iscariot. We read about Judas Iscariot in the Gospels because he was one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus. He walked and talked with Jesus. He saw and heard everything. He saw the miracles. He participated in Jesus’ ministry and yet the Truth of what Jesus was doing did not sink into his inner life. John 12 describes for us:
READ John 12:4-6 (ESV)
“But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples (he who was about to betray Him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”
We find in Judas someone who appeared on the outside to be a devoted follower of Jesus, but on the inside was motivated by money and other desires. Judas used to steal from the fund for Jesus and His ministry… that is pretty bold and sneaky and sinful. On the outside he was devoted to Jesus to the extent that no one but Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. Judas never acted out. Jesus never treated Him different. Until Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, the other disciples did not know the extent of his inner reality.
APPLICATION
What about us? Do we have issues with looking one way on the outside and have a different reality on the inside?
> Are we motivated to come to church to worship or for something else?
> Do we do the bare minimum for God and are thankful for His grace to let us slide?
> Do we seek to die to ourselves and follow Jesus or is “self” really the master of our lives?
> Are we a Christian on Sundays, but not on Monday-Saturday?
> Is the only time we read the Bible or pray in Church?
Second, we have judgmental attitudes related to spiritual pride. This happens when individuals or groups adopt a self-righteous stance to look down on others whom they perceive as less religious or morally upright. They do this all the while ignoring their own faults or shortcomings. Feeling morally superior or spiritually advanced compared to others leads to arrogance and a lack of humility.
Jesus further describes this of the Pharisees and others in Luke 18:11-14:
READ Luke 18:11-14 (ESV)
“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
A great example of this is Peter in the New Testament. You might be thinking that I will describe the time when he denied Jesus three times. Nope. That does not involve judging others as less than oneself. In the early church, there was a question as to if a person had to become a Jew before they became a Christian. The Apostle Paul and the other apostles decided that the answer was… no… anyone could come to Jesus and they did not have to be circumcised or become Jewish before accepting Jesus. Peter knew this, but he struggled. Galatians 2 tells us:
READ Galatians 2:11-14 (ESV)
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Peter acted one way when some of his friends weren’t around and when they showed up he acted like he judged the Gentile believers as less than himself. Gentile believers were those who were not Jewish by birth. There are judgmental attitudes related to spiritual pride right there on display.
APPLICATION
What about us? Do we have issues with judgmental attitudes related to spiritual pride?
> Are we only comfortable in a church with people who look like us or sound like us?
> Do we think God does not listen to certain people who have certain sins?
> Do we meet someone and judge them “less than” because of their skin color?
> Do we meet someone and judge them “less than” because of their economic status?
> Do we think Jesus would only agree with our political views and not those other people?
> Do we believe there are sins for which people cannot be forgiven?
Third and finally, we have legalism. Legalism is emphasizing strict adherence to religious laws, rituals, or traditions without understanding or practicing the underlying principles of compassion, justice, and love. Legalism is following God’s rules and boundaries for the rules and boundary sake and not understanding the intent or emphasis of what God has designed for us.
Jesus further describes this of the Pharisees and others in Mark 7:9-13:
READ Mark 7:9-13 (ESV)
“And He said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
The commandment to honor one’s parents is one of the big twelve handed down to Moses by God. This has always been interpreted by the Jews to mean that children must support their parents so they do not slip into poverty. Support and honor for one’s parents is a commandment from God and therefore must be observed faithfully. The religious leaders of the temple were not helping people fulfill this commandment, instead they were focused on what they could obtain for use in the temple. As such they would permit people to dedicate money to the temple that should have been used to fulfill the commandment of keeping one’s parents out of poverty. The self-interest of the religious leaders trumped the keeping of the commandments and it is this attitude that Jesus condemned.
A great example of this is in fact the Pharisees in the New Testament. During Jesus’ ministry, He often loved and helped and healed as many people as He could at any time and in any place. The Pharisees considered healing someone work and therefore should not be done on the Sabbath. The Pharisees considered some forms of helping as work and therefore should not be done on the Sabbath. The Pharisees condemned Jesus and wanted to destroy Him because He did good on the sabbath. We find this in Matthew 12:9-14:
READ Matthew 12:9-14 (ESV)
“He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how to destroy Him.”
APPLICATION
What about us? Do we have issues with legalism?
> Do you condemn card playing at church, but do it at home?
> Do you judge someone with a tattoo as worldly and not a lover of Jesus?
> Do you judge someone not to be a Christian if they do communion differently than what you do?
> Do you believe that women should always wear dresses to church?
> Do you only love people who you like and who agree with you?
> Do you believe people should not work on Sunday, but you go out to eat after church?
> Do you judge someone’s spiritual journey based on how much they cuss?
SUMMARY AND CHALLENGE
Jesus warns the disciples not to adopt the same kinds of attitudes as the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known for classic hypocrisy where their inner life did not match their outer life. They were often very judgmental based on their spiritual pride. They were famous for being legalistic to a fault. Jesus looks at His disciples and He wants them to follow the narrow way of His teachings, but He does not want hypocrisy or a judgmental nature or legalism to infect their faith. These types of attitudes are infectious and damaging.
Remember, yeast is something that spreads and permeates. This is why Jesus references it in His teaching. Jesus teaches us that the terrible attitudes of the Pharisees of hypocrisy, being judgmental, and being legalistic are sinful and spread and permeate quickly.
Jesus describes hypocrisy as…
… a yeasty beasty.
… the mold that keeps us from being bold.
… the bubbles that lead us into troubles.
… the fungi that disposes us against that one guy.
… the attitude infection that leads to rejection.
… that which permeates and only separates.
… the leaven that keeps you out of heaven.
Overall, Jesus was cautioning His followers against adopting the attitudes and behaviors of the Pharisees. These forms of religious hypocrisy can erode trust within churches and families and distort the true teachings and values of Jesus. These attitudes put barriers between us and God; other people and God; and even barriers between us and other people.
The challenge for us is to continually and ongoingly check our heart to make sure we don’t have an infection of these kinds of attitudes. Unlike yeast, there are not medications or creams or dietary adjustments or lifestyle changes that can be done to get rid of hypocrisy.
* Self-reflection in prayer is essential for the attitudes of our heart.
* Comparing our attitudes with proper thinking in the Bible is essential.
* Confession and repentance are needed when we find hypocrisy growing.
PRAYER
INVITATION
For those of you who are here and are not yet believers in Jesus, I would ask that you consider the Truth of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection on its own merits without confusing Him with followers of Jesus you may know who are hypocritical. The church does not save us. Other Christians do not save us. Other people are not worthy of our faith. Jesus Christ alone saves us and is worthy of our faith. Most of the rest of us are just trying our best. As you seek for God, focus on Jesus and His perfection and His love for you and not the mess in which the rest of us find ourselves. Jesus will never let you down.
