Heart Over Hypocrisy: True Faith Before Empty Religion

Matthew 16:5–12 KJV 1900

And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Opening Hook (Engaging Start)

(Pastor Welch steps onto the platform with a smile, warm and welcoming.)

“Good morning, Faithway! Are we staying above water today?

It’s been a stormy week! We’ve seen rain pour down, winds shake the trees, and roads turn into rivers. But storms don’t just happen outside, do they? Sometimes, life itself feels like one big storm—pulling us in a million directions, making us feel overwhelmed.

That’s exactly what the disciples experienced in today’s passage. They were so caught up in the work of ministry that they almost missed the presence of Jesus Himself. And just like them, if we’re not careful, we can miss what really matters—our relationship with Christ over the busyness of religion.”

The Pain of Misaligned Trust

Main Idea: The disciples were so focused on preparing for ministry that they forgot to focus on Jesus Himself.

Illustration:

“Have you ever been so busy getting things done that you forgot something important? Maybe you’ve left your coffee on the roof of your car and driven off. Maybe you’ve been rushing to an appointment and left your phone at home. The disciples had that moment—they were so focused on their work for Jesus that they lost sight of Jesus.”

Application:

“Are you constantly running, constantly working, constantly trying to ‘do’ for God but feeling spiritually dry? Stop. Pause. Take a moment each day to simply sit in His presence, read His Word, and remind yourself—Jesus isn’t just calling you to work for Him; He’s calling you to walk with Him.”

Transition:

“But it wasn’t just their busyness that caused trouble—it was also their misunderstanding of truth. Jesus used this moment to warn them about something far more dangerous than missing a meal.”

Warning Against Self-Focused Religion

Main Idea: Jesus warns that false teachings—whether legalism or self-indulgence—contaminate true faith.

Illustration:

“Have you ever baked bread before? If you add just a little bit of yeast, it spreads through the whole dough. That’s exactly what Jesus was saying about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees—just a little falsehood can spread and corrupt an entire faith system.”

Application:

*“Today, false teachings still exist. Some say, ‘Just be a good person, and you’ll get to heaven.’ Others say, ‘Live for yourself; God wants you to be happy.’ But Jesus says something very different: You were created for God’s purpose, and your redemption comes only through Christ’s sacrifice.

With so much information coming at us daily, we must intentionally seek truth—and God has made it clear where we can find it: His Word. Are you actively filtering what you hear through Scripture?”*

Transition:

“The disciples still didn’t fully get it. They thought Jesus was talking about bread! But Jesus wasn’t focused on their stomachs—He was concerned about their hearts.”

The Plea for a Heart Alignment

Main Idea: True understanding comes not from external influences but from a relationship with Jesus.

Illustration: “Imagine you’re in an escape room. The clock is ticking, and you have clues all around you. But instead of following the key clues that will lead you out, you keep listening to random guesses from your teammates, trying every lock, and second-guessing the real solution. You waste time, get frustrated, and might never escape in time.

That’s what happens when we let the world’s voices guide our faith instead of following the one clear path—Jesus. Instead of looking to God’s Word for direction, we rely on opinions, trends, and our own feelings, only to find ourselves spiritually stuck.”*

Application:

*“Jesus isn’t just looking for people who know Bible facts—He’s looking for people who know Him. That means we must be intentional about what influences our hearts.

This week, ask yourself:

• Am I spending more time scrolling through social media than reading the Bible?

• Am I letting the world define my beliefs instead of Scripture?

• Am I seeking Jesus or just seeking religion?

Let’s make the choice to align our hearts with Jesus and let His truth shape our lives.”*

Closing Challenge & Call to Action

*“Faithway, the storms of life will always come. Busyness will always press in. Falsehoods will always try to take root. But Jesus is calling you today—not just to work for Him, but to walk with Him.

So this week, let’s do three things:

1️⃣ Pause each day to rest in His presence.

2️⃣ Test every teaching against God’s Word.

3️⃣ Align our hearts with Jesus, not the world.

If we do this, we won’t just avoid the leaven—we’ll live with spiritual clarity, joy, and purpose in Christ!”*