“…Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1)
The Pharisees, a religious sect of Jesus’ day, made the Old Testament law into an unscriptural system of legalism, “teaching the commandments of men for doctrines of God” (Mark 7:7). Ignoring the meaning that God intended for them to receive through scripture, they, through tradition, “made the Word of God of none effect in their hearts.” (Matt. 15:1-9)
Jesus warned His disciples, “Beware of the Pharisees’ leaven!” Seventeen times in the New Testament leaven is used to illustrate sin. “…Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened…” (I Corinthians 5:6-7).
I used to have a bread machine and I remember the tiny little packet of yeast that you would add to the machine to turn the lump of mix into a giant loaf! The “leaven”of sin works the same way. A little sin is like a little gangrene or a little cancer — it’s very dangerous because it quickly spreads and destroys.
- The Pharisees Were Hypocrites
“…Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1)
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:7-8)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27)
The term hypocriteoriginated from Greek drama and means to “put on the face.” The hypocrite was an official term for an actor in a play. He or she pretended to be somebody that they were not. The Pharisees knew the words from the script, but their hearts were removed, “their heart is far from me.” Pretending to have a heart relationship with God, they paraded their giving, praying, and fasting (Matt. 6), to be “seen of men” (Matt. 23:25). The Pharisees were like actors in a Hollywood movie.
- The Disciples Were in Danger
Jesus saw that His disciples were in danger of the leaven that destroyed the Pharisees. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees!”
Mat 23:27, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are withinfull of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
The disciples were to beware of confusing outward “doings”withinward spirituality. Teaching a Sunday School class, sharing your faith, and attending three church services a week does not make you spiritual. These “doings” can help your spirituality, but they are not your spirituality.
Disciples should beware of confusing outward “don’ts” for inward spirituality. Not doing certain things can only protect spirituality, but it cannot create spirituality. Not going certain places, not watching certain things, or not hanging around with certain people does not mean that one is spiritual. This principle is illustrated in Ezra and in Nehemiah. Ezra rebuilt the temple and reinstituted worship. Nehemiah built walls around the worship system. Walls of separation (“don’ts”) are only good if there is worship on the inside. The Pharisees’ leaven was their exterior of whited walls while dead men’s bones existed on the interior!
Disciples should beware of image management. Focus on being more than on doing. Worry about character more than cosmetics. The Pharisees focus was on looking good. They should have directed that effort to heart preparation. Let us do the hard work of the heart and pray along with the psalmist, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)