“‘How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:11,12
Devotional Thought For The Day
Many “Christians” would find little to criticize in the “teaching” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Both generally adhered to the moral code of God’s law, lived relatively decent lives above public reproach, and encouraged others to do the same. It is true that the Sadducees were more “liberal” and “open-minded” about some topics in God’s Word – which would appeal to the more liberal strains of “Christian” theology, but they understood God as demanding human righteousness upon which they believed our salvation is ultimately dependent. The Pharisees taught the same and not only approved the Word of God but added additional “hedge” commandments to keep people from even coming close to violations of the law in their behavior [Mark 7:6-13]. Hence the conflict between Sadducees and Pharisees as described in the New Testament [Matt. 22:13-34; Acts 23:6,7]. However, although both believed somewhat in conditional forgiveness from God, both groups were certain that salvation was not by the grace of God, His forgiveness and His merciful and gracious accounting of righteousness to those who repented and believed in His love, but rather by our own merit and deserving.
Such thoughts about the importance of morality and a subconscious belief that our salvation is in some ways dependent upon us, our merit and deserving, is ingrained in our sinful nature, and has also crept into the teaching of “Christian” groups – denominations and congregations. This “teaching” is completely contrary to the teachings of Holy Scripture, which over and over again make clear that “by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Eph. 2:8,9] The faith which “saves” us is faith in God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and steadfast love for us – by which He has provided us with redemption and atonement because of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29] Hence, this “teaching” of the Pharisees and Sadducees is contradictory to the Word of God, Holy Scripture, and leads not to faith and salvation and a true knowledge of God but rather to unbelief, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy of the worst kind. So Jesus warns His disciples – and us – about this teaching which leads not to salvation but rather to damnation, and which leads not to love, mercy, and forgiveness toward others but to arrogance, condescension, and rejection of others.
You can read for yourselves of the constant theological conflict between Jesus and these leaders of Judaism which led ultimately to the crucifixion of Jesus – and how the true Gospel of God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy “scandalized” these self-righteous religionists. We must look carefully at our own thinking and the teaching that others provide for us, so that even if the Gospel scandalizes our sinful nature, we not reject the Word of God and His gracious love, mercy, and free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and settle into the “teaching” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The danger is real and insidious and leads to impenitence, unbelief, and rejection of the gracious love and mercy of God, which is ignorance of God, the only True and Living God, and repudiation of Him. Obviously, this does not do a person any good at all – but sets one against God and refuses His love. Lord, have mercy!
So let us heed the warning of Jesus and take care that we not imbibe in this “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Sadly, there are many people within visible Christendom, and our congregations, who lead externally exemplary lives because of this “leaven” but who have rejected the Word of God and His gracious love – and they seek to blindly lead others into their false religion [Matt. 15:14]. God forbid we succumb and ignore Jesus’ warning! This is not to say that we should not have a concern for decent and moral behavior – which is love, the fulfillment of the law [Rom. 13:10] – but we do so out of love and gratitude to God for His free gift of redemption and salvation, not to earn it. Those who have faith and trust in God’s gracious love also have a “leaven” within them, the leaven of God’s great love and mercy, and this produces real and genuine love for others, the kind of love that God truly has for us. This is the “teaching” that Jesus urges us to ponder and devour, the teaching that comes from the Vine. [John 15:1-5]
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your wondrous love for us, which comes to us freely by Your grace. Thank You for the full and complete redemption You have provided for us in Your suffering, death, and resurrection. May we always find full comfort, solace, and confidence in Your gift of salvation. Thank You also for the warning that You give to us of that “teaching” which seems so reasonable to us, but which rejects Your love and leads to self-righteous hypocrisy. Preserve us from this teaching forever! Grant that we cling to You and Your teaching, to the glorious knowledge of Your perfect love for us. Amen.