The Leaven of the Pharisees

-Jesus warns us of the creeping danger of unbelief.

The term “suspension of disbelief” was first coined by the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1817.  Coleridge asked readers to allow a “willing suspension of disbelief,” so they might better engage with his fantastical poems.

Of course, we have all done this when reading a good book or watching a movie.  Often, the difference between a positive or negative review is whether the critic was persuaded to suspend their disbelief.  But even as we are persuaded to do this, no one really thinks that Superman can fly, or that Dr. Frankenstein was able to bring a corpse back to life.  Rather, for the sake of being taken on the journey, we make a conscious decision to suspend critical thinking.

-Jesus does not invite us to “suspend our disbelief”. He invites us to believe in Him!

I. A Fresh Experience with Christ vv. 1-10

It feels like deja vu all over again in this passage.

A great crowd has gathered and they have nothing to eat

Jesus will repeat a miracle that has already taken place and we must pay attention to how His disciples respond

The same character that has always been present in Him is on display again:

He has compassion on the crowd

He is aware of their circumstance

In some ways, He is inviting His disciples to understand what He is going to do

Unfortunately, their perspective has not changed through their experience with Jesus

Seeing has not been believing, at least not in a truly transformative way

I’m grateful here that Jesus demonstrates His ongoing patience with His disciples: He repeats the miracle

There are important differences that insure we understand that these are distinct events

However, the fundamentals are the same

I do think the number of baskets left over is a worthy exception: It speaks to God as the source of the provision rather than the disciples as the object of the provision

Jesus shows us compassion in that, even after we have walked with Him for a long time, He gives us fresh experiences of His provision and faithfulness so that we are better equipped to know who He is and to follow Him

William A. Ward has said, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

II. A Moment of Exasperation vv. 11-13

On the other hand, Jesus is confronted by a group of Pharisees demanding a sign

Jesus could have readily done any sign that they might have wanted; that has been established

However, Jesus does not respond in the way that they anticipate:

He is exasperated by them, frustrated by their persistent posture of unbelief

He recognizes that the primary issue is their unbelief; there is no point in giving them a sign, because they will come up with fresh new reasons not to believe Him

He does not honor their faithless unbelief; recognizing the fruitlessness of action, He will not be forced or manipulated.

Jesus does not act in miraculous ways for the sake of convincing hardened hearts; He acts out of mercy for the suffering and out of compassion for the faithful

We will see this powerfully illustrated in the next chapter

A father whose son is afflicted by an unclean spirit comes to Jesus seeking help and receives it.

Mark 9:23–24

[23] And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (ESV)

III. A Warning for the Faithful vv. 14-21

Jesus issues a warning to the disciples that comes before their words reveal their danger

He warns them of leaven: the yeast that causes dough to rise. It infests and impacts everything that it touches

The leaven he warns about is the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

The Pharisees are marked by a kind of self-righteousness that misses the righteousness that depends on faith

Herod is marked by his political and financial scheming and self-interest

They both are ultimately invested in themselves and are not committed to and trusting in the Lord

Unfortunately, this leaven has already begun to take some effect in the lives of the disciples;

Confronted with their circumstance (out of bread) they are focused on themselves and their hunger

They remember what is not there and they forget who is there!

Jesus levels 3 accusations at them:

They have not really seen and heard what He has done

They do not remember His gracious acts and what they signify

They do not yet understand His identity

He is God’s provision for us

If we miss Him, we miss God completely!

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Let Jesus In

Once I heard this story concerning King Edward VII of England. He and his queen were out walking late one afternoon when suddenly she stumbled and sprained an ankle. In great pain, and with considerable difficulty, she limped along, holding to her husband’s shoulder. At dusk, they approached the home of a humble man. The king knocked on the door. “Who’s there?” came the query.

“It is Edward. It is the king. Let me in.”

The man on the inside shouted back, “Enough of your pranks now. Be off.…”

The king, not being accustomed to such language, was shocked. He hardly knew what to do, but he knocked a second time. The cottager inquired, “What do you want?”

“I tell you it is the king! It is Edward, your king. Let me in.”

In anger the man shouted, “I’ll teach you to torment an honest man trying to get his sleep.” He threw open the door in disgust, only to see that indeed it was his king! With profuse apologies the laborer invited the royal visitors in and sent for help to attend his queen.

Years later, when the Britisher was too old to work, he would spend much time rocking on the porch and visiting with neighbors. He took great delight in reviewing that experience, always concluding with the same words: “And to think, to think, I almost didn’t let him in! To think I almost didn’t let him in!”

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20).

Not until you open your heart and let Jesus in will you know what God is like.