Matthew 16:5-12
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,”Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 13:33
“He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Jesus explains that parable, along with the Parable of the Sower…
Matthew 13
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Hypocritical people will weigh down other believers, with new and additional rules, in order to proselytize or ‘make disciples.‘
Matthew 23:15
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Why do law makers feel as though they need to invent new laws? We already have a law. No need to reinterpret.
Such as the contemporary Jewish rule, making eating a hamburger with cheese on it a “sin.”
Where does that come from?
Exodus 23
“Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
So they reinterpret that as saying cheeseburgers are made of the same stuff. It really isn’t though.
- A young goat is NOT cooked in milk. It is most commonly grilled. Not boiled. Definitely not in milk.
- The slice of cheese on a burger is NOT of the same family of livestock.
- Most of us do NOT eat veal (beef made from young cows). Certainly NOT on cheeseburger. The beef at the grocery store, unless otherwise specified, is produced from mature animals.
What is another example of the “Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”
One of the 10 commandments is “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” Does that interpret the cooking with microwaves as “kindling a fire?”
My common sense says NO. The reason kindling a fire is mentioned in the laws for the Sabbath, is because back then starting a fire was A LOT of work. So saying pushing a button on a microwave is the same as kindling a fire, clearly that person has never gone camping.
Matthew 22
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus summed up the Law with those two commandments! Yet, His Word touches on a plethora more than just that. He even speaks to us individually! When you have been born again, you begin to see the world differently. When you have a relationship with Jesus, He will speak to your heart.
John 14
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
Matthew 28
19 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 5
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”