NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

YEAST OF THE PHARISEES AND THAT OF  HEROD (MARK 8:14-21)

REFLECTION

“Yeast of the Pharisees and that Herod” is the theme of our reflection. Yeast serves as a leavening agent that causes bread to rise, expand and become lighter and softer. Yeast in Scripture most often refers to a negative metaphor or a bad influence that infiltrates a believers life to corrupt his or her faith. Jesus uses the metaphor of a yeast to warn his disciples against the negative influences of the Pharisees attitude and lack of faith in Him as the son of God and Herod’s materialistic lifestyle.

The disciple were journeying with Jesus to Bethsaida. It became obvious that they were inadequately prepared in term of their feeding. “The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.” (Mark 8:14) They might have demonstrated a sign of worry or anxiety due to the lack of adequate bread supply in the boat. However, Jesus warned them, “Be careful,”… “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (Mark 8:15). In other words, Jesus cautioned his disciples not be as faithless as the Pharisees and also not as materialistic as King Herod. The lack of faith of the Pharisee can been seen in their earlier encounter with Jesus when “The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. ¹² He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” (Mark 8:11-12). On the other hand, Herold, the ruler of Judea was also known for his unbelief and obsession for power and materialism.

The key lesson Jesus wants to teach us through His disciples is that believers must learn to put their trust in Lord at all times even in times of scarcity or need. Unbelief and anxiety borne out of the lack of material things or needs of the flesh can become the yeast that will cause negative impact on our spiritual lives and relationship with Jesus Christ. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus expected His disciples to have faith in Him at all times because they have experienced the power and providence of God at work in Him during their journeys. It is for this reason “Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. ²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” ²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8:17-21)

Again, unlike Herod, Jesus expected the disciples to accept Him as the first and foremost possession and all other things including their nutritional needs shall given to them. This is captured in Matthew 6:33-34 when Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34)

In summary beloved in the Lord, we must be on guard as believers so that we are not influenced or bloated by the yeast of unbelief, and anxiety. We are greatly encouraged to have faith in Jesus and embracing Him as our provider even in times of scarcity or want. David walked with God in faith and experienced the glory of God in his life, hence his confession in Psalm 23:1-3, 6, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³ he refreshes my soul…Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, our faith is in You, therefore, we bring before You our burdens and anxieties with the assurance that You are our only sustainer and provider. May Holy Spirit purge us of unbelief and worries borne out of materialism even as we continue experience your grace and presence in our lives as our Lord and Saviour. Amen.