This morning, reading in Matthew, I find interesting the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, their self- righteousness, and Christ’s teachings and His comparison to leaven bread.
Because of their own self-righteousness, lack of reading, understanding, believing, and obeying God’s Word, some have professed and gone astray in their belief. They follow the doctrine of legalism and have become skeptics in Christ and His teachings. As stated in Matthew 16:11-12, Jesus speaks of their doctrines, their attitudes, and perspectives towards the teachings of Christ as the Messiah.
Here in Matthew, Jesus used the word leaven (yeast) (or as Jesus was referring to – sin,) that had infiltrated in the self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees teachings, and their lifestyle. Just as a little leaven in bread can cause the whole loaf to rise, so is the comparison of a little leaven (sin) in the Pharisees or Sadducees to spoil a person.
This leaven /yeast in bread, instigates a decay process, and thus symbolizes false doctrine.
Jesus was teaching of a new way to be made right with God. He was saying, out with the old and in with the new. This new (covenant,) was to be by faith in Christ alone, and not man-made laws and ideas. The religious teachers of that day, (Pharisees and Sadducees,) were adding, (you might say, leaven/yeast to their teachings,) bringing about a decaying process into their lives and the lives of their hearers. These religious leaders were full of pride and did not want anyone messing with (their) kingdom.
Now comes a man teaching of a new way, into the Kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ, alone. This would take down that of the old teachings, of the very lives of these religious leaders, and bring in a new way of living, interrupting their own comfortable lives, and way of doing things.
The Gospel, or Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, was now to be the way of life. Through Christ, His shed blood and redeeming power, through His blood and His resurrection, brought about a new teaching, a new way of living; yes, a new life to those and who believed.
Now, sin can be washed away, and man forgiven for his trespasses, forever to be with God, eternal salvation. The very teachings of Christ, through this new covenant, would mean a change of heart, mind, body, and soul. With a repentant heart and forgiveness of sin, mankind can now live a life with God.
Christ said, “I came not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.” This was hard for religious leaders of that day to accept. A new teaching, a new leader, and a new way of life. In like manner, are we willing to give up the old (life,) and accept the (new) life in Christ Jesus?
To the Pharisees and Sadducees, it meant out with the old and in with the new. Because of their own pride of life, they could not and would not accept Christ, as the coming Messiah and receive His teachings.
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