Thoughts for the Day

The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod

Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today's words by Jesus from the Gospel of Mark, follow those we read yesterday. The Pharisees had demanded Jesus produce a sign from God, and knowing that they would still not see his work as evidence of his being the Messiah, Jesus refuses and departs from them by boat. Perhaps the quick exit explains the reason the disciples forget to take food with them. We should also remember that the disciples are fussing about bread, despite having twice seen what Jesus can do to feed thousands of people. If the subject wasn't so serious it would surely be a laughing matter - the men can only think of their stomachs, while Jesus has much greater things on his mind.

Jesus has warned them to "beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod". He is not talking about bread, but just as yeast is a rising agent and when mixed into a small amount of dough will combine the whole lump into a large loaf, so Jesus is telling the disciples that they need to watch out for the false teaching of the Pharisees because it will have an effect on them and on the people. His mention of Herod (the ruler who sought to gather as much worldly wealth as he could) is to remind them not to rely only on the things of the world, after all Jesus had sent his disciples out in twos to rely on others giving them food and shelter.

The message for us today is twofold. We are to beware of false teaching inn our church and society, and we can measure that against the teachings of Jesus. Secondly, we should remember that once we start loving the things of this world too much, we will start living for the things of this world!

Lord Jesus Christ,
may we put our trust in Your teaching
and always measure it up to the rule
of loving God, and loving others.
Help us not to get distracted by
worldly desires and worldly rumours,
but to forge ahead following the path
You have laid down for us.
Amen.