Beware of the Leaven - Mark 8:15

Mark wrote how Jesus' “disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf”, and in chapter eight and verse fifteen of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus “charged” His disciples by saying, “take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” where we read:

And he charged them, saying, Take heed,

beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

The verse reads, “And he charged them, saying, Take heed, ...” Mark began with the words, “and he charged them” which means “and Jesus admonished and ordered His disciples”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “take heed” which means “become acquainted with, see, look to and beware”. Mark shared how Jesus began to give a warning to His disciples.

The verse goes on to say, “... beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.” Mark continued with the word, “beware” which means “discern, perceive, discover, observe and understand” “of the leaven” or “pertaining to the inveterate mental and moral corruption which is viewed in its tendency to infect others” “of the Pharisees” which means “belonging to the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”, “and of the leaven” or “and pertaining the inveterate mental and moral corruption which is viewed in its tendency to infect others” “of Herod” which means “belonging to Herod who was surnamed "Antipas" and was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace, a Samaritan woman. After the death of his father he was appointed by the Romans tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea and his name means heroic”. Mark shared how Jesus warned His disciples about the “mental and moral corruption” within the teachings of both the “Pharisees” and “Herod”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus gave His “disciples” a warning about false teaching that was within the “Pharisees” and “Herod's” teaching. Because the “Pharisees” and “Herod” gave instructions to people that were in opposition to God's, Jesus wanted His disciples to keep away from their “spiritual nourishment”. “Leaven” is the bacterial agent within bread that causes it to rise and eventually rot if not baked and is used as a type of “sin”. When “sin” entered the world, all people were made “unholy” before God. “Leaven” like the doctrine of the “Pharisees and Herod” was unhealthy spiritually for Jesus' disciples, and He warned them against it. God wants people to follow His teachings, and anything that is contrary to what Jesus says is like “leaven” against their souls.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus' disciples reason, “among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".