“Be Careful…!”

“Be Careful…!”
The Pharisees were there again to test Jesus. “They asked him for a sign from heaven.” According to Mark, Jesus blatantly refused that “No sign will be given to it.” We do not need to wonder why they were always around Jesus if they doubted him. When they asked for a sign, they didn’t need any; they were simply looking for a way to accuse Jesus.
Their test later became opportunity for Jesus to pass on some salient truths to his disciples.
He told them, “Be careful. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” Since yeast has to do with bread, the disciples thought “It is because we have no bread.”
Jesus was dissappointed in them. How could he be talking about bread when they were witnesses to how he fed five thousand men with five loaves and seven basketful of pieces could still be picked up?
The questions are to us today as well. “Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” After the miraculous feeding “do you still not understand?”(Mk.8:10-21).
Far from it, Jesus was not talking about bread!
The yeast of the Pharisees was their legal attitudes and teaching of religious regulations which they laid down on the consciences of sincere believers to perform. Meanwhile the yeast of Herod was the evil political intimidation to submit to what was contrary to God’s will.
The influence of either of them was a hindrance to the freedom of belief that Jesus was bringing to set captives free from sin and misguided religiosity!
When the crown and the alter become bedfellows, believers become entangled in prescribed religiosity strengthened by political highhandedness! When this happens, believers would stick to rules, regulations and decrees with the word of God being used only as prooftext to support opinions and points of views!
My friend, when faced with such a situation, Peter told the Sanhedrin, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:19-20).
Yes my friend, beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing! Search the scriptures so that you may find the words that save! Do not depend on the rules of men and political manoeuvring that enslaves rather than saves!
Prayer: Holy Spirit enable me to identify the yeast of Pharisees and Herod so that I may stay clear of it. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!