REFLECTIONS
REFLECTION ON LK 12:1-7 - THE YEAST OF THE PHARISEES
October 16, 2020
As the crowds following Jesus swelled, He warned His disciples of the spiritual flaws, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ", because they could easily surrender to human nature, giving in to the temptation either to gain popularity by pleasing the crowds or to avoid trouble by pleasing the Pharisees or they might be tempted to compromise the truth to avoid offending the crowds or the Pharisees. (Martin G. Collins, Beware of Hypocrisy)
What does leaven have to do with hypocrisy? To the Jews, leaven was a sign of evil. It was a piece of dough from left-over bread which fermented. Fermentation was associated with putrefaction. Why did Jesus warn his disciples to avoid the ways of the Pharisees? The Pharisees were good at looking religious while harboring evil intentions. Jesus compares hypocrisy to leaven which begins small but grows quickly and quietly, infecting the whole person and eventually the whole society. When a person is puffed up with pride, hypocrisy flourishes and character is perverted.
The good news is that God's light both exposes the darkness of evil and sin and overcomes hatred with love, pride with humility, and pretense with integrity and truthfulness. God gives grace to the humble and contrite of heart to enable us to overcome the leaven of insincerity and hypocrisy in our lives.
Jesus mentions “fear” five times in this passage, teaching that a basic cause of hypocrisy is the fear of men. People will do almost anything to avoid embarrassment or harm. When we are afraid of what others may say or do to us, we try to impress them to gain their approval, and our human nature will stoop to deception to accomplish its purposes. Sadly, many of the Pharisees were more concerned about reputation than character—what people thought about them than what God knew about them. (Martin G. Collins, Beware of Hypocrisy)
What does fear have to do with the kingdom of God? Fear is a powerful force. It can lead us to flight or panic or it can spur us to faith and action. The fear of God is the antidote to the fear of losing one's life. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. ..O fear the Lord, you, his saints, for those who fear him have no want! ..Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:4,9,11) What is godly fear? It is reverence for the One who made us in love and who sustains us in mercy and kindness. The greatest injury or loss which we can experience is not physical but spiritual -- the loss of one's soul to the power of hell. A healthy fear of God leads to spiritual maturity, wisdom, and right judgment and it frees us from the tyranny of sinful pride, cowardice -- especially in the face of evil, and spiritual deception. Do you trust in God's grace and mercy and submit to his word?
LET US PRAY
"Lord, your perfect love casts out fear. Give me a passion for your word and your righteousness and a resolute hatred for sin. Help me to cast aside anything which would hinder full union with you."
Sources:
From: https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/luke121.htm
From: https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/25461/eVerseID/25467
