Matthew 16 The Yeast of the Pharisees

The Pharisees and Sadducees had gotten together to test Jesus by asking Him for a miraculous sign from heaven. In light of the OT prophecies (such as Joel 2:30-32), it seems like a reasonable request. Yet, Jesus says that they are an evil, faithless generation to ask for a miraculous sign, and He turns and walks away (16:4).

The next place we find our Savior is at least a few hours later. The disciples are talking about needing bread, and Jesus tells them, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (16:6,11) No doubt, whatever the P&S had done wrong with their question, it was sticking in Jesus' mind as being insideous and dangerous.

Of course, Jesus often did not explain His metaphors. It's up to us to recognize of what we should beware. Jesus said it is yeast: some sort of subtle, insinuating sin that creeps in without noticing. What fits that description?

Pragmatism is a yeast. It starts with making decisions that don't fit my ideals, but seem to get me out of a jam at the moment. Soon, I compromise what I know is right in the name of what will bring short-term benefit. I teach what gains followers for myself, what makes friends of the people I want to be friendly with, and enemies of the ones I hate. Before long, when God sends the very One that every page of my Bible screams about, I can't recognize Him, because He is not advancing my ambitions.

External focus is a yeast. It begins with wanting to do the right thing, but perhaps for the reason of impressing or pleasing people, rather than God. Soon, I spend more effort on thinking about what people will think about me than I do on what God wants. I spend years getting my credentials in order, so that people will know that I am an expert. Before long, I am wearing holy clothing and talking holy talk and walking with that certain "holy" look on my face, admired by all, except the One who can see my heart. And armed with that kind of sickness in my soul, I watch my own Savior heal and feed and serve and teach, and none of it is enough. I need one more sign, this time from heaven itself.

We walk by faith, not by sight. If I can see it, it's not faith anymore. If I always need yet another confirmation that God is there, that He is hearing me, or that He is my personal genie doing my every command, then I have silently slipped into the realm of doubt, not of faith. My eyes will never be satisfied with the evidence, if I can't see that the heavens are already shouting the glory of God.

Perhaps some of these symptoms are marks of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. I think there are more, but they don't lend themselves so well to the context of this passage. LORD, deliver me from the yeast that so silently invades my dreams and robs me of my soul. Make me a man of integrity, who seeks after you and you alone.
-ker