January 2021

06/01/2021

Mat 16 v 1-12; Acts 22 v 1-30; Ps 37 v 1-22; Ex 35 v 1-37 v 29
Beware the leaven

“…Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” (Mat 14 v 3)

Throughout the New Testament we are warned of false teachings by those who want to lead the children of God astray and these teachings, especially those of the Pharisees and Sadducees, are compared to leaven.

Leaven, if left unchecked, will rise like yeast and and fill the whole bowl. In the same fashion, false teachings and hypocrisy will take over a fellowship or congregation if not dealt with correctly.

You don’t need to look very far to see just how fallen the world and its people are. This was no different in the time of Jesus and Paul, but it has certainly escalated to a point where truth has become relative and you can make up your own religion that will suit your needs. Apparently “anything goes” these days…

The Pharisees and Sadducees were accused by Jesus of being hypocrites. They would teach one thing and expect the people to abide by their teachings and yet they would live according to another standard. This also goes for the false teachers we see today who set forth two sets of rules. One for themselves and one for their followers.

Absolute truth is absolutely true. You cannot change the truth as and when you like and then expect others to adhere to your version of the truth. This was the case with those in the time of Jesus and Paul. They would set a religious standard for the majority to meet, but they would live as if there was no one they needed to give account to.

“Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Mat 23 v 26 – 28) [Berean Study Bible]

The only way we can truly live a righteous life is to commit ourselves to the Lord and His word, and obey His law that He has written on our hearts. There is a promise regarding this. Adhere to God’s truth and you will inherit His kingdom, which is not of this world.

An everlasting life awaits those who are faithful to the Lord Jesus, for He is the way, the truth and the life.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation“