JESUS’ PARABLES - THE LEAVEN

MARK 8:11-21 - THE LEAVEN

Two weeks ago we discussed the Ten Bridesmaids the Wise and Foolish Virgins and how Jesus was telling His audience 2000 years ago and His audience today that we are to be prepared.  Last week we discussed the parable of the Talents and how Jesus is not only calling us to be prepared – like with the wise and foolish virgins – but then with the parable of the Talents, He told us how to be prepared; to use the time, treasure and talent He has given us and we are to use them for Him – His Glory, His Kingdom, His Purpose.  We are not to neglect what God has given us – and while some may be called to do something big – we can also do small things for Him and we ended the message with don’t waste what God has given, don’t hide what God has given us we will have to give an account for what He gave us and how we used them.

Today we talk about the parable of the Leaven and how to recognize and avoid the evil leaven that is opposed to God – opposed to God’s Word, God’s Will, God’s Way.

Let Us Pray!

THE LEAVEN (Mark 8:11-21)

Matthew 16:1–12 – And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 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.

This parable warns of the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Both groups were religious, but their hearts were far from God. Since they were not spiritually minded, they didn’t understand the spiritual teachings of Christ.

I.       Warning—v. 6

Why did Jesus remove His Disciples and talk to them privately?

The Pharisees and Sadducees were wanting to test Jesus like satan tested Jesus in the desert.

As believers we too can have a shallow faith that still demands signs – great faith – deep faith needs no signs – we can ask God for a sign – If you want me to tithe then You will give me a better job – but then do nothing to pursue a better job – God if you want me to tithe then You will increase the price of beef or lower the cost or parts etc.

  we have to do our part -HURRICANE STORY

Jesus tells them the only sign you will receive is the sign of Jonah – coming out of the belly of the whale after 3 days – a prophecy of His resurrection after being in the earth for 3 days –

He gave the Pharisees and Sadducees time and time again to turn from their earthly ways and follow Him – but they refused

He then removed Himself and His disciples from the situation

When they got to the other side – by themselves – Jesus taught

Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”  The leaven (yeast like) here refers to the teachings of these two sects.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were not normally allies – but they unified against a common enemy – Jesus – God – like 2 branches going in opposite directions but having the same trunk

A. Religious Pharisees. They were very self-righteous—

Remember the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:10–12. They fasted, prayed, paid tithes, but they did not yield to God.

They stayed in control and tried to conform God to their image – His teachings to their ways, His Law they had to add to and “fix”

B. Rejecting Sadducees. They didn’t believe in the resurrection, in angels or spirits—Mark 12:18 and Luke 20:27 - And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection

Acts 23:8 – For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all

all state this. Both groups had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof—All false religions and cults have their own writings and forms of religion. But God wants us to have changed lives.

He wants our identity in Him

He wants His Word to be our guide

He wants us to live for Him and not self

He is the potter and we are the clay – not the other way around like the Pharisee’s and Sadducees

Jesus says Watch out – beware – do not partake of the leaven of Pharisee’s and Sadducees – Jesus was telling them - do not allow your heart, soul and mind to be leavened with the religiosity of the Pharisee’s and Sadducees

But His Disciples were not paying attention so worry crept in

II.      Worry—vv. 7–10

A. Confusion & Concern—v. 7-8. The disciples were concerned about their natural food, not understanding spiritual truths. 

They thought Jesus was telling them to literally not buy bread from the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus wasn’t speaking about bread, but of spiritual truth —

We too can be so focused on the natural, physical needs that we neglect or become insensitive to spiritual truths

Jesus told us to not be concerned about the physical needs – not concerned with who can kill the body but who can destroy both soul and body

Jesus rebuked them, “Oh ye of little faith.” 

Jesus’ phrase for lack of understanding

The disciples had a saving faith – but were rebuked for the shallowness of their believing faith

Those with little faith lack spiritual discernment

Lacking Spiritual Discernment, we too can fall into the same situation as the disciples and be so focused on the here and now that it’s amazing how soon we too can forget all that God has done

B. Clarity—vv. 9–10. Jesus reminded them of two times He had fed the multitudes:

1.      5,000 fed—Matt. 14:15–21. Twelve baskets remained.

2.      4,000 fed—Matt. 15:32–39. Seven baskets remained. Jesus will meet all your needs—

Matthew 6:25-34 – do not worry about what you will eat, drink, your body or clothes – look at how God takes care of His creation

Jesus then questions their wrong interpretation

III.    Wrong Interpretation—vv. 11–12

A. Misunderstanding—v. 11. “Why is it that you do not see that I was not talking to you about bread? I was talking to you about keeping away from the yeast of the proud religious law keepers and the religious group of people who believe no one will be raised from the dead”—NLT.

Yeast – leaven – penetrates the entire dough and cannot be removed – Jesus told us a little leaven leavens the whole batch

Here and many other places – leaven is the symbol for the penetrating power of evil – a mindset against the Word and Will of God as we see with the Pharisees and Sadducees

The disciples had a saving faith – but were rebuked for the shallowness of their believing faith

Message—v. 12. The disciples finally understood that Jesus was speaking about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Why does this matter?

We must be careful what teachers and teachings will allow in our life –

We must believe all Scripture and not pick and choose like the Sadducees

What are some types of ungodly leaven today?

Republicans (Trump) – unwholesome talk about those on the other side of the aisle

Democrat (Harris) – existential threat to society

Human Relationships – live together try it out – like buying a new car – test drive it

Gender – enough said

Jeremiah 29:11 –For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

This is not saying God will bless you with riches and health – His plans are good for us and not evil – His plans give us a hope and His plans give us a future with Him – Spiritual wealth not physical wealth.

Do you have leaven that you have allowed in?  Only God can remove it!

Do you desire a deeper, stronger faith?  Read His Word – EVERY DAY!

God is interested in every phase of your life. He will meet your physical, spiritual, and material needs. Jesus came to give abundant and enjoyable life— To understand God’s provisions and blessings, we must live close to Him and follow His Word. Then we will understand and be able to discern His will and way for our lives.

Brief Closing Idea

The warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees reminds us that what we allow into our hearts and minds will eventually influence the way we think, believe, and live. A small amount of leaven works its way through the entire batch, and false teaching, self-righteousness, unbelief, worry, and worldly thinking can do the same thing spiritually. The Pharisees tried to reshape God around their religion, while the Sadducees rejected portions of God's truth they did not accept. Jesus warns His disciples: “Watch and beware.”

At the same time, the disciples were so concerned about bread that they forgot the One standing beside them had already fed thousands. Worry caused them to forget God's faithfulness, and forgetting God's faithfulness weakened their spiritual discernment. Jesus calls us to something deeper—a faith rooted in His Word, confident in His provision, and spiritually alert enough to recognize teachings and influences that contradict His truth. We must not reshape God to fit our beliefs; we must allow God and His Word to continually reshape us.

Final Summary

Jesus warns believers to “watch and beware.”Spiritual discernment requires intentionally guarding what we allow to influence our hearts and minds.

Religious activity is not the same as spiritual transformation. The Pharisees prayed, fasted, tithed, and knew the Law, yet self-righteousness kept their hearts from fully yielding to God.

We cannot reshape God according to our preferences.He is the Potter and we are the clay; His Word must shape our beliefs rather than our beliefs reshaping His Word.

We must receive the whole truth of Scripture. Like the Sadducees, people can accept certain teachings while rejecting others that conflict with what they already want to believe.

A little spiritual “leaven” can influence the whole life.False teaching and ungodly thinking rarely remain isolated; given time, they can affect our beliefs, attitudes, decisions, relationships, and behavior.

Worry can distract us from spiritual truth. The disciples became so focused on physical bread that they missed what Jesus was actually trying to teach them.

Worry can also make us forget God's past faithfulness.The disciples worried about bread even though they had already witnessed Jesus feed thousands—with food left over.

Saving faith should continue developing into deeper, discerning faith. Jesus challenged His disciples' “little faith” because He wanted them to grow beyond merely believing in Him to learning to think spiritually with Him.

Spiritual discernment grows through closeness to Christ and His Word. The more deeply Scripture shapes our thinking, the better equipped we become to recognize teaching that contradicts God's truth.

We must examine the influences we allow into our lives.Teachers, culture, relationships, media, traditions, and even political rhetoric should be tested rather than automatically accepted; for political claims especially, the same standard should be applied consistently regardless of party or candidate.

God's faithfulness gives us confidence for today.Instead of allowing physical concerns to dominate our thinking, we can remember how God has provided and trust Him with what lies ahead.

The question is not simply whether leaven exists around us, but whether we have allowed ungodly leaven to grow within us. Jesus calls us to examine our hearts and allow His truth to expose and remove what does not belong.

Final Challenge

What kind of leaven are you allowing to shape your life?

Is there a teaching you have accepted because it sounds good rather than because it agrees with Scripture? Has worry caused you to forget what God has already done? Have cultural opinions, religious traditions, relationships, or personal preferences begun shaping your beliefs more than God's Word?

Jesus says, “Watch and beware.”

Don't allow a little falsehood today to become a deeply rooted belief tomorrow. Stay close to Christ. Read His Word every day. Remember His faithfulness. Test what you hear against Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment.

And instead of trying to make God's Word conform to your life, allow God's Word to continually transform your life.

Let Us Pray!